Leading Others Through Seasons of Fear

Leading Others Through Seasons of Fear

Categories: AACC BLOG

Leading Others Through Seasons of Fear

by W. Jesse Gill, Psy.D

Leading Others Through Seasons of Fear

God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  II Tim 1:7 (NKJV)

A. Fear Basics

  1. What is fear? A survival response called the Fight or ______ Response.
  2. Also includes the Freeze response for threats which can’t be addressed by Fight or __________.
  3. How is a “spirit of fear” different than the fear response in humans?
    • duration and direction—stewing in our fear and no clear immediate target.
    • choosing to listen to voices of fear
    • excludes God from the equation. Faith is God assisted.  Peace is a gift from God.

B. Power, Love, and Sound Mind (II Tim. 1:7)

  1. Power—We have a grounding source and a place to plug in our energies aimless.
  2. Love—Perfect love casts out fear (I Jn 4:18); Reminded of God’s love for us and others.
  3. Sound Mind– We are able to accurately discern the source of messages.

C. Effective leaders manifest Power, Love, and a Sound Mind.

  1. Crisis is an _________________________
  2. What does God want to do in the Kingdom?—– Motivated by Love.
  3. Discerning the mindset of individual and group communications– “spirit of fear?”

Group Exercise

  • Where are some places you have detected a “spirit of fear” lately?
  • Where are some places you have seen humans advancing the Kingdom lately?

D. It’s a “Spirit Thing” – this Mind of Christ

“only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means…. “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?  Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”   I Corinthians 2: 14b,16 (NLT).

  1. It’s not the natural mind. It’s supernatural and beyond human comprehension.
  2. Jesus prayed, and he did not fall prey to emotional interference.
  3. He was not in denial; in Gethsemane he sweated drops of blood.
  4. He did not allow others to sway Him with their fears.   To Peter, “Get behind me Satan”
  5. His focus was not on the circumstances around Him. The stormy sea.
  6. Jesus focused on who the Father was, as he quoted Scripture intimately.

E. Peace that passes all understanding is a gift for leading.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6,7

  1. You don’t have to conjure up the peace, your job is to cry out and pray and give thanks.
  2. Effective leaders remember God’s faithfulness in the past, and they give thanks.
  3. Effective leaders know how to depend on Christ – “Hold me Jesus, I’m shaking like a leaf”
  4. Ask Him to give you the Divine perspective – 2 Kings 6:17 Gehazi and Angel Armies.

F. Attributes of Effective Leaders During Crisis

  1. Calm
  2. Focused
  3. Missional
  4. Hopeful and Expectant

G. Jesus Christ is Sufficient. He is more than enough.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8 (NASB).

  1. He is Lord of our Past, Present, and Future
  2. Anchored to this truth for ourselves–“My Faith has found a Resting Place”
  3. We lead others in this Truth.

H. Fencing in Fear– Yesterday, Today, and Forever.

  1. Yesterday— Reflect on the Faithfulness of God in your life and in His word
  2. Today—Noticing the present moment. Resting in the presence of Jesus right here and now.            “In quietness and confidence shall be your ________________” (Isaiah 30:15)
  3. Forever— Prayerfully imagine the future.  Expose yourself to it.  Inoculate yourself to it. Imagine yourself hand in hand with Christ facing the unknown.

Group Exercise— Fencing it in.

Action Item:   What is one tool you can take forward to anchor yourself and lead others?

Jesse Gill, Psy.D., is a Christian psychologist who has worked at Psychological Health Affiliates in Lancaster, PA, for the past 17 years. He is passionate about marriage and family work. He has been greatly enriched in his work integrating Scripture with Attachment Theory, and applying it to marital therapy. He has completed the book, “Face to Face: Seven Keys to a Secure Marriage” and speaks regularly on the subject.