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Fears of the Unknown


There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (I John 4:18)

          Today’s chapter of Simplify by Bill Hybels was about fear. Fear is one of the big enemies. It’s one of the reasons I’m trying to move slowly, but also move quickly, but it’s not the fear itself that’s causing the problem. Or, maybe the better way to put it is that it’s the fear of fear that’s motivating me. Fears can work on so many levels. I am afraid to make mistakes. I know that one shouldn’t make decisions when one is too…too tired, too hungry, too upset, too angry, too afraid…. I also know I’ve gone from one enormous stressor (caring for a family member) to several: death in the family, change of financial circumstances, moving, loss of job, and probably a few others. 
          I also know that I’m given to an extreme. Make a change – even a small change – in my part of my life, and my knee-jerk reaction is panic. Now I have to rebuild my whole life. That’s probably truer this time around than it has been. I’m trying to be very deliberate about it. Very careful. Moving ahead as fast as I can, but trying to give myself lots of time, because for what seems to me to be the first time in my life, it’s really “my” life. 
          All of this causes fear. What if? What if not? Down the middle, between the fears of the unknown and the imagined and the fear of the fears, we have to find a trail to walk. That trail is called courage.

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