In Chapter 3 of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson states that lion chasers face the same fears as everyone else and that they don’t necessarily know more than other people. What makes lion chasers different is that they have chased their fears, and in the process exposed themselves to the very things that put fear in their hearts in the first place. Lion chasers have a higher threshold for fear because they’ve built up immunity to fear.
Pastor Batterson notes that it’s like getting spiritual allergy shots. When an allergist tests you for allergies and prescribes a regiment of shots, the purpose is to alleviate your symptoms by exposing you to small doses of the things to which you are allergic. On a spiritual level, the cure for the fear of failure isn’t success- it’s failure. The cure for fear of rejection isn’t acceptance- it’s rejection. Pastor Batterson concludes:
“One of the greatest things that could happen to you is for your fear to become reality. The you would discover it’s not the end of the world. Your fear is worst than the actual thing you’re afraid of. And if you learn from every mistake, then there is not such thing as fear anyway.”
Today’s question: What has been your greatest fear following your ministry downsizing or vocation loss? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The Midas touch”
