For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2Timothy 1:7
Professional golfers get nervous standing over a 3-foot putt to win the tournament. They’ve managed to control their nerves, however, because they’ve practiced the shot thousands of times. They rely on muscle memory to help them manage their nerves. This works for a time, but dependence on the flesh eventually fails us.
It’s the same with public speaking. The more you speak, the more comfortable you’ll be. If you only give one presentation every six months, of course you’ll be nervous. It feels unnatural because you don’t do it that often. The world’s solution: Speak often. However, practice does not make us perfect.
Similarly, you may have heard some form of: “You’re only as successful as your ideas. Landing a dream job, persuading investors, inspiring employees, and attracting customers require the effective transmission of those ideas. Don’t let your nerves get in the way of achieving your full potential.”
This sounds great, but it is not the truth for Christians in the Workplace. There is something far more important for our success than our ideas, controlling our nerves, or practicing until we are comfortable. That something is our dependence on God.
Anxiety and fear are tools of the enemy to cause us to shrink back from the position of victory that we have been given in Christ Jesus. If such anxiety and fear are evident in our daily lives, we should be suspicious of our spiritual stability, as well. The Scriptures encourage us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6). How is this possible?
It helps to know that the “fear” of 2Timothy 1:7 is translated from a Greek word that means timidity, or cowardice. The spirit of cowardice does not come from God. It comes from the enemies of our soul. God has given us His power, His love and His sound mind. The key to real success in the workplace is not found in how much you practice, as much as it is in practicing the presence of God in all we do.
Marketplace Ministry Tip: God has given us the grace to deal with our fears; grace appropriated by faith. Behind every fear is a lie, deal with the lie, and the fear will fly. Seek the word of God for the truth that will dispel the lie; and give you faith to glorify Him in all you do (even in your first attempt).
Humbly yours and forever His,
