Author: Donna Miller
There is a great difference that rearranging that subject line above would make. It could read: “To get fear under control, get prepared.” However, that is not exactly how I feel the true prepared lifestyle actually works.
The fact is that most of us have never chosen wisely reacting out of fear. Chaos, emergencies, and emotional instability often force us into feeling that we have to make decisions immediately and often on only partial information and even worse, on little if no faith.
Fear can be a motivator, but it can also be a jailer or a manipulative tool used by others. Getting a grip on how your ‘fear buttons’ are pushed is paramount to how you make choices and put plans into action in the days ahead.
As life is changing, economics are changing and much of society has and will continue to change, fear has topped the charts of what is on the minds and hearts of many people. Folks in big business, yes, it is even very prevalent in the preparedness business, have found this to be a tool. Many people without the experience (not talking years here but investment of trial and error, time and guts) or they lack the right attitude to help others and are jumping into ‘survival’ mode in more ways than one and grasping at fear to make a sale. They will tend to use fear as a manipulative tool to get those who are just now seeing the need for preparation to act. You’ll notice the red-flags when you read how very many of their promotions and newsletters set off the fearful alarms in your own head and heart. Although there are plenty of things in this life to be worried over, if more than 2/3 of the advertisement or email newsletter is trying to aggravate the fear in you and stir it up and whip you into a frenzy …. well, you may want to think long and hard before buying what they’re selling. In fact, think about doing the same business with someone else who does not prey upon the fears of others. Same product – but more peace.
Fear can become a jailer. Everyone has knowledge of the inability to move forward due to fear. Often in the preparation lifestyle we run in to more people who are aware that something is going on around them but they would rather not think about it and ‘look weird’ by acting upon it. They will rationalize the act of doing-nothing-different than the status-quot as a way of faking out the fear. The unfortunate outcome of this choice has yet to be seen, yet we can play out several scenarios and hypothesize that the end result is not a pleasant one for those who choose to be jailed and stuck in their fear.
As a motivator, fear takes on a more useful role in our lives. While on this earth we cannot escape the potential to be afraid of something, to possibly panic or have our buttons pushed by others who are more fear-mongering than helping. But what we can do is put it into the proper perspective and take action that is prayerfully and personally determined to be the best course for your own family and loved ones.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
This verse exactly mirrors the opening statement of the importance to rid ourselves of fear so the much needed character traits that we have had bestowed upon us can come through, on our own accord and on the prompting of His Spirit. Not manipulated by others using fear, and not stagnated by fear itself…but through power and self-discipline.
Be not afraid and enJOY the journey!
