Jentezen Franklin - Fear Fighters: How to Live With Confidence in a World Driven by Fear

Chapter 1
FACING OFF WITH YOUR FEARS

IT WAS A typical Sunday afternoon in late January. I had finished preaching that morning in my church in Gainesville, Georgia, and was preparing to board a plane with my wife, two of our children, and some staff from our church. We were flying to our pastorate in California to preach to several thousand people who would attend two services later that afternoon. This Sunday afternoon flight to California had become a happy routine since God had opened the door for us to pastor Free Chapel Orange County, our West Coast campus. However, this Sunday would be anything but routine.

Every January at Free Chapel, we begin the year with a twenty-one-day fast. This particular Sunday was special since it was the last day of the fastwhich meant we could eat!

We had just begun enjoying our meal when suddenly the cabin of the plane became extremely hot. We reached up to open the air vents, and smoke billowed. Next thing we knew, one of the pilots came out of the cockpit to urge us to put on our masks and brace ourselves because we were on our way down for an emergency landing due to a loss of pressure.

Thats when everybody started throwing out their lunch. But not me; this was my first meal in twenty-one days! If this was my final day on this earth, I wasnt going to leave it hungry! I asked the person next to me to pass the ketchup, and I kept on eating. I had one hand on my wifes knee to calm her down, the other hand holding my fork, and my elbow steadying my plate.

Sure I was scared at the thought that something was terribly wrong, but in the midst of my fear, I had peace. Though it was a terrifying situation, I had a calmness in my spirit, and I knew that everything was going to be all right. It wasnt until we landed and the emergency trucks rushed the plane when I realized the magnitude of the situation. I began to praise the Lord for His protection, and I proclaimed to the enemy that he had lost again.

The next week when we were getting ready to board the plane, fear confronted me. In that moment I had a decision to make: fight the fear and get on board, or give in to fear and give up on Gods assignment for my life. That day, my prayer before liftoff was much more earnest than in the past. I began to quote Psalm 91 and claim Gods promise of protection. I chose to fight my fear instead of allowing fear to conquer me. And each week, I continue to get on that plane and fly across the country to minister to thousands of people.

I learned a lesson that day. Whenever fear comes my wayand it will comeI have a choice. My faith can fight fear. I dont have to panic and get myself worked up in frightening situations. If I stay focused on Gods promise and allow faith to fight fear, He will keep me in perfect peace.

Living Without Fear

As I considered that phenomenal peace I experienced in what should have been a frightening situation, I began to meditate on the scriptures that promise us a life without fear:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7

Overcoming fear is something we all face when we endeavor to do new things, such as take a new job, fall in love, create a new product line, or start a business. For example, when we consider where to invest money, we must face the fear of failure. In short, there can be no progress in life without taking risks. You cannot succeed in life if you give in to fear.

The corporate world risks failure every time they launch another high-tech toy; the fashion world risks failure with every new line of clothing. Yet, they are willing to take huge, multimillion-dollar risks to improve their merchandise and boost their sales. Do they always win? No. But without taking a risk, they have no chance to succeed.

The business world takes more risks than the average Christian. Why? Because we have to overcome our fear of failure before we can take a calculated risk. What are the consequences of not taking a risk? This amusing story will give you the picture:

There was a very cautious man

Who never laughed or played;

He never risked, he never tried,

He never sang or prayed.

And when he one day passed away

His insurance was denied;

For since he never really lived,

They claimed he never died!

What a zero! It is impossible to live life without trying new things and taking risks and possibly experiencing failure. We all fail. The failure rate of the human race is 100 percent. Everyone qualifies for membership in the club of failures. That does not mean we have to live in the fear of failure.

If we do not face off with our fears, they will keep us from living the victorious life that God meant for us. And we will suffer the regret of what could have, would have, or should have been.

You will never be perfect. So you will never be perfectly successful. That doesnt mean you will not succeed in lifebut you must try.

Afraid to Try?

I heard of a guy who couldnt speak English. He was terrified of trying because he did not want to fail. So he found an English teacher and asked him to teach him how to order a meal in a restaurant in perfect English. The teacher taught him how to say four words: hamburger , french fries , and Coke .

Every day after that, the man went to order his hamburger, french fries, and Coke. Soon he grew tired of eating the same thing every day. So he asked the English teacher to teach him how to order something else to eat. The teacher taught him to say eggs , toast , and juice .

So the man went happily to the restaurant to order eggs, toast, and juice. But when the waiter asked, How do you want your eggs? the guy stared back blankly. Then the waiter asked, What kind of toast do you want? And would you like orange juice or apple juice? The guy stared helplessly at the waiter for a moment and then said, Hamburger, french fries, Coke.

A lot of people live a hamburger, french fries, Coke life because they are not willing to do something imperfectly or try to do something new. They will not face off with their fears and risk failure. Their answer to risk-taking is to play it safe. But you cannot please God by playing it safe, and you cannot succeed in life without taking risks.

When you are so afraid of failure that you dont try, you cannot please God. You cannot play it safe and please God. I would rather try to do something for God and fail than not try to do anything. That leads to barrenness and futility of your purpose in life.

Recipe for barrenness

There was a tourist driving through beautiful farmland when he saw an old farmer sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. The tourist stopped to chat with him. As he approached, he saw the mans scraggly beard and noted that he was chewing on a piece of straw. Behind the old farmhouse was seventy-five acres of barren land.

The tourist asked the farmer, Is that your land?

Yep, he replied.

Well, what are you going to do with it? Are you thinking of growing cotton?

Nope. Im afraid the boll weevils will get it.

What about corn?

No. Locusts will eat the corn, the farmer responded, still chewing on the straw.

Well, is there anything else you can do with the land? What about raising cattle?

I am afraid the price of beef might go down.

So, what are you going to do with your seventy-five acres of prime farmland?

Nothing. I am going to play it safe and do nothing.

Have you ever felt that way? Just wanting to play it safe and do nothing? A lot of people do that with their life potential. If you choose just to play it so safe in life, your potential for success becomes a barren wasteland. If fear rules your life, you will not dare to step out in faith to fulfill your destiny in God. But the Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). It is better to risk failure to do what God wants you to do than to do nothing.