The fear of facing a fear can bring on a panic attack.

 I know this feeling well. I remember getting up to preach and my physical reaction was brought on by my feelings leading up to the preaching.

I had to keep the thought of preaching out of my mind. I tried to get on my day as normally as usual, and even practice my sermon. But as the time few closer the fears crept in.

By the time I stood up to preach I was physically shaking, heavily sweating, my voice shaking, my heart racing and my legs felt weak.

Obviously I didn’t want to do it. But because I forced myself to go and get the groceries while having panic attacks, because I was more worried about losing my children than the attacks, I new that if I faced my fears (even as a physical emotional mess) then I would still have achieved what I needed to do to get done what was required of me.

Don’t get me wrong, I did want to preach, but I didn’t want to get up in front of an audience. Being up in front of an audience terrified me, it at me to panic.

I was desperate to face my fears because I hated being so mentally weak, and I hate being a coward. So I asked God to give me challenges that would test me.

When I preached, I felt sick to the stomach, my voice shook, my knees banged against each other, I had to remove my glasses because the sweat was pouring down my head Ave they were completely fogged, I was an emotional mess. I was greatly relieved when it was all over.

The point here is that I discovered that there comes a time when we have to do what is needed to do to cure ourselves.

We need to toughen up and do the hard yards and only then will we finally be cured.

The last time I preached I was comfortable while doing it. No fear, and no panic. Still shy, and still a bit worried that I would make a mistake but that is what all people do.

This is why they say that only the courageous get the prize, it is because only the courageous try to get the prize.

All the best from
James M Sandbrook.
‎Tuesday, ‎4 ‎August ‎2015, ‏‎7:52:41 PM.

Ignoring the pain won’t make it go away. Ignoring what’s wrong won’t make it right. Ignoring the problem won’t give you a solution. Ignoring only leaves you vulnerable to the unwanted growth of more pain, more wrong, and more problems.
Stop running away. Start facing your demons and your darkness. That is the only way you can win. That’s the only way the light can get in.”