I remember being about eight years old and I was on a highly anticipated fishing trip with my Grandfather.  We stopped at a gas station to get some sodas, but as I walked from the truck to the store a small dog ran towards me barking excitedly.  I had always been afraid of dogs, especially barking dogs, so in a brave and manly way (you can imagine my eight-year-old self screaming hysterically!) I ran back to the safety of the truck, tripping in the gravel and cutting open my knees before reaching the cab.

I have never had a pet dog.  I never really learned to distinguish between an excited dog and an attacking dog, and my fear of dogs lasted well into adulthood.  But, I realized recently that I’m not afraid of dogs any more.  Even when faced with a hostile dog that could hurt me, I found myself standing with confidence.

What made the difference?  I’m sure my age and maturity are part of the answer, but I have to also credit Cesar Millan.  You may have seen Millan as the host of the show The Dog Whisperer where he takes problem dogs and helps the owner understand what makes the animal tick, as well as helps them solve the problem.  “A calm assertive energy” in the face of the animal’s anxiety is the key.

Having seen a bunch of episodes of The Dog Whisperer, the secrets of the animals were revealed to me.  I no longer saw them as mysterious and threatening bundles of energy.  Instead I saw them as simple animals who are looking to establish a hierarchy.  Once I had the knowledge and understanding of what I feared, I was no longer afraid.

What is it you fear?  How do you overcome it?  Scripture gives us two solutions.  First, Hosea 4:6 says, “My people perish from lack of knowledge.”  We fear what we don’t know and what we don’t understand.  I was afraid of dogs because I didn’t have experience or knowledge of a dog’s behavior.  Once I had that knowledge I was no longer afraid.  So, it is time to face what you fear.  How can you do that?  The second factor in overcoming fear comes from 1 John 4:18 which says, “Perfect love casts out all fear.”  By turning to, and living out, the perfect love that God gives us, fear will be cast out from us.

So to overcome fear, first turn to the Lord and understand He will stand with you no matter what you face.  Secondly, face, examine and understand what you fear.  Your knowledge, with the Lord’s help, will set you free.

What is it you fear?  What steps can you take today to face, examine and understand that fear?

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