The Paralysis Effect of Fear
When an animal is afraid, it stops moving. There is a paralysis effect of fear that affects animals, but most of the time, we think it only affects animals. Humans are affected in the same way. Men and women, when they are dealing with fear, stop moving. There are many people whose lives stop moving because of fear.
The Bible speaks in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power. There are two types of power that the Bible records. There is dunamis and there is exousia, and these two types of power mean two different things.
The first one, dunamis, is the dynamic ability to cause change. The power of God can be on your life, but fear can stop you from accessing it. Fear can stop you from using it. Someone who has been empowered can be paralyzed by fear. Think of an animal: when it is afraid, it has the power to run, but fear has paralyzed it, making it non-responsive. Many people have authority and power in areas where they should be exercising them, but because of fear, they fail to exercise that authority. Areas where they are empowered, they fail to use the power given. Dunamis is the ability to change your situation, but fear has told you it’s impossible to change.
The second type of power, exousia, is the authoritative aspect of power, the delegated authority you carry. Sometimes, people carry authority to change their situation, but because of fear, they remain as slaves. The Bible says that an heir, as long as he is a slave, is no different from a servant, though he is lord of all. Fear stops you from growing, fear stops you from multiplying, and fear stops you from exercising the authority God has given you.
Fear also affects passion. When you look at 2 Timothy again, it says that God has given us power, love, and a sound mind. Love brings focus. Fear, on the other hand, gives you options. The reason many people are unproductive is because fear gave them options. The Bible also says that where your treasure is, there your heart will be. I like to interpret this by saying that the area you are passionate about is the area where you will be most productive.
Many people lose passion because of fear. They are afraid to focus on one area and risk failing. You may be afraid that if you focus on music, you will fail. So you give yourself other options, and the gift of music you carry never manifests. You may be afraid that if you focus on writing, you will not succeed. You try other options, and you never become the best writer you could be. You may be afraid that if you focus on running, your career may not provide financial stability. Fear gives options, and you do not focus on your gift. Anytime a person is afraid, they have other options. When a person is focused through love and passion, they are able to achieve anything God has called them to.
Finally, fear attacks your mind. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a sound mind. The reason many people fail is because they no longer have a sound mind. One day you believe, “I can do it.” The next day you doubt, “I cannot do it.” Today you believe God can, tomorrow you question it. Fear bombards your mind until you no longer believe your situation can change. The paralysis effect of fear works on multiple levels. It affects your power, preventing you from exercising authority. It affects your passion, taking away focus and drive. It affects your mind, filling it with doubt and instability. Fear stops people from accomplishing the tasks God has given them, even when the power and authority are present.
Today, my prayer is that any paralysis effect of fear is removed from your life. By the Spirit of God, may you walk in power, love, and a sound mind. May you reclaim your authority, focus on your passions, and believe fully in the work God has called you to do. Do not allow fear to paralyze your life any longer.
God bless you.
