Fear | Quotes For Stress

Do not be afraid or discouraged!

This week’s Quote For Stress: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15

King Jehoshaphat ruled Judah from 873 to 849 BC. At this time the kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity and the blessing of God rested on the people.

However near the end of his reign the neighboring nations joined forces to make a powerful army to fight against Jehoshaphat. The king and his people were filled with alarm, and turned to God in prayer and fasting. The king prayed:

“O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do; but our eyes are upon you.”

Silence followed then the voice of Jahaziel the Levite was heard announcing that the next day all this great army would be overthrown.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

As predicted, the very next day the vast enemy army was overthrown not through the strength of Jehoshaphat’s army by by their own ‘bad’ behavior. The enemy quarreled among themselves, and killed each another. All that the people of Judah had to do was to gather up the rich spoils of the slain.

I find this story to be a great encouragement. Do you feel as Jehoshaphat did, desperate in your own situation. Maybe even praying his prayer for yourself.

“My God, I have no power to face this vast army that is attacking me. I do not know what to do; but my eyes are upon you.”

Whatever “army” or threat is coming against you remember to:

believe in God
trust in God
pray to God

And remember that God answers prayer, but not always according to our agenda!

Are you ‘an appeaser’?

This week’s QUOTE FOR STRESS

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” Winston Churchill

The definition of ‘appease’ is to pacify or placate someone by acceding to their demands.

Appeasing others is extremely stressful as you’re constantly vigilante to the other person’s spoken and unspoken demands and desires. The stress involved will get you in the end. Depression is caused by stress so if you carry on appeasing the crocodile (of depression), it will gobble you up!

Appeasing others or people pleasing is usually an attempt to find acceptance and love. Each time you fall into the trap of appeasing others, visualize yourself feeding a crocodile!

Don’t mistake a crocodile’s immobility for inactivity, because that is how it gets its meals.

For more on the effects of being an appeaser click here.

Fears can be learnt!

This week’s QUOTE FOR STRESS:

“Fears are educated into us and can, if we wish, be educated out.” Karl A. Menninger

Karl Menninger (1893-1991) was one of the most distinguished psychiatrists of his time. He lobbied for better care of patients in state hospitals who were housed in very dirty conditions. On many a Saturday morning he would rally his staff together to go to the Topeka State Hospital to clean up the hospital and care for the patients. These patients had very little treatment as the hospital was understaffed. Through Menninger’s lobbying, the quality of care improved.

The statement that “fears are educated into us and can, if we wish, be educated out” is so true. So many of our fears are learnt responses that we acquire as we grow up. Parents who are anxious and fearful teach their children to be anxious and fearful. Fear and anxiety become the subconscious way in which we deal with situations.

Overcoming fear

The main factor in overcoming a fear is to recognize it and ask yourself ‘exactly what am I afraid of, what exactly do I fear?’ Free-floating anxiety is very hard to deal with, but naming the fear means that you can make a plan of overcoming the fear. Ask yourself if your fear is based in reality. Ask other people what their response would be to the situation that causes you fear.

You can educate yourself out of your fear, but education is the important word here! If you would like to know more about overcoming fear and anxiety, please click here which will take you to another site of mine with tips for overcoming anxiety.