A Deeper Dive: How does fear influence us?

I worked with three consulting clients last week on the same basic issue. Frankly, I didn't expect to be working on the same thing with all three leaders. Fear in the workplace can significantly hinder employee performance and engagement. It often stems from various factors. For example; the culture, the interpersonal dynamics, leadership style, or even change happening on the outside of the organization. A famous industrialist said that if the change on the outside is greater than the change on the inside, the company is dead. This is especially true today with AI lurking right outside the front door. How do you spot it in the organization? You find reduced engagement and increased turnover. What do you do about it? Open up communication and encourage dialog—addressing the fears openly, building a culture of trust, support and positive reinforcement.

But my mind went on a broader scope while thinking about fear. If you are reading this post for business purposes, you just read it. If you are interested in the broader scope, read on.

Many years ago, I was running on a beach in Dana Point, CA and a thought with a cry took within me; the thought that I might die; and the cry that God would answer my prayer. Only a few months before, my life had never looked better. In a way, fear had been useful to me—the fear of failure had driven me to be successful in the world’s eyes, in my companies, and in my profession. But the doctor’s face and particularly his eyes had said it all—setting off a firestorm of fear in me.

There is no feeling quite like the icy grip of fear, and it comes in many varieties. Fear can come from almost anything imaginable. Yet fear is simply a part of the fabric of living. God equipped us with it so that we would be wise enough to protect ourselves from the unexpected. It is a basic survival instinct; a good thing—as long as it remains rational. A phobia is results when fear and reason don’t keep in touch. When fear builds its power over us, it shackles our hands and keeps us from doing even the routine things in life like working, playing, living and serving. One in ten people today suffer from a phobia.

Tiny fears almost unperceived can build up day by day until we find ourselves paralyzed and unable to function. According to Craig Massey there are six categories that most of us face: criticism, loss of love, illness, old age, poverty, and death. Scripture does not exactly paint a picture of a fear-free life. King Saul lived in fear of a giant; nine feet, six inches and then of a boy who slayed the giant with a sling shot!

But what do we know about fear, whether it is in the workplace or in life outside of the workplace. First, it disregards God’s plan for us. The truth is that God has a plan for us and we can claim it with joyful assurance. But fear disregards that plan. The Israelites had prevailed over Pharoah’s army, over the high tide of the Red Sea, over the challenge of the journey, but they couldn’t take a stand against the final obstacle. You may stand at the threshold of God’s greatest promise, but you will never claim His blessings if you let fear dominate your life.

Second, fear distorts God’s purpose. It distorts our view and robs us of our perspective. We lose sight of his promise; that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. And the greater our fear, the weaker our reasoning becomes. Third, fear reaches out to everyone around us. The hopes and dreams of the Israelites for security and a new beginning were ruined for 40 years because of the fear of 10 men. Fourth, it ignores God’s promises. They had giants in their headlights so massive that they blocked out all the great things God had done for them in the past and was doing for them in the present and His word on the future. Last, fear disobeys God’s principles. It is disobedient to God plain and simple. Scripture is full of “fear not.” Two men, Joshua and Caleb, stood firm in their faith against fear.

We all want to accept the call, but fear holds us back. What if I am making the wrong decision? What if this is not the right company for me? What if this is the wrong fit for me? What if this surgery and treatment don’t work? Somehow, we can’t hold to a simple assurance of God’s trustworthiness and loving nature. So, how can we face our fears?

First, we need to confront our fears honestly. We need to be like David and gather up our stones to advance boldly. We need to understand what is at the roots of our fear. We need to ask God to search our heart and show us the problem. If we try to run away from it we will end up like Jonah inside a big fish!

As we pray, we need to acknowledge our fears. Scripture says, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” Identify the fear, bring it to God, and walk away. Next, claim God’s promise of protection. Scripture is filled with them. I copied them on note cards and left them everywhere, in my house, in my car, in my office, in my briefcase, and in my wallet. This is fear insurance—invest in it! The last two are the best two in my opinion. Cultivate a closer relationship with God and commit your life to Him.

The 10 spies measured the giants by their stature. Joshua and Caleb measured the giants by God’s stature. Our fear level is a referendum on the closeness of our friendship with God-it is a spiritual yardstick. The opposite of fear is not courage or trust, the opposite of fear is love. We need to be an ambassador of the love of God. The more we reach out, the smaller our fears and the deeper our relationship with God. In the business world, this view sometimes gets distorted. We need to increase our time in the Word, devote time to pray, and keep a journal of how He comforts us in times of fear. And we need to commit our lives to Him. There is one ultimate fear that every human must face-one fear that stands taller than all others. The ultimate giant is death itself!

I asked God that day on that beach this question, “Am I going to live or die?” That day, God sent a messenger on that beach to tell me one simple thing: “You will live a long and healthy life.” Fifteen years later, here I am writing this story despite having a 5% chance of survival.