Scribd
Upload
72 views2 pages

Don't Fear Deeper Freindship

This document discusses how fear prevents people from developing deeper friendships and connections with others. It argues that fear makes people defensive, distant, and demanding in relationships. However, having the spirit of God can overcome this fear by giving people courage, love, and the ability to enjoy others. The key is to pray to God for courage when wanting to take the first step in connecting more deeply with someone.

Uploaded by

Jayhia Malaga Jarlega
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
72 views2 pages

Don't Fear Deeper Freindship

This document discusses how fear prevents people from developing deeper friendships and connections with others. It argues that fear makes people defensive, distant, and demanding in relationships. However, having the spirit of God can overcome this fear by giving people courage, love, and the ability to enjoy others. The key is to pray to God for courage when wanting to take the first step in connecting more deeply with someone.

Uploaded by

Jayhia Malaga Jarlega
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Don't Fear Deeper Friendships

By Rick Warren 7/1/2009 4:56:31 PM


In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the
most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline”
(2 Timothy 1:7 NIV).

When we’re full of fear and anxiety, we don’t get close to each other. We back off from each
other. We’re afraid of being rejected, manipulated, vulnerable, hurt, or used. All of these fears
cause us to disconnect in life.

This fear is as old as humanity. When Adam and Eve sinned, and God came looking for them,
Adam said, “I was afraid . . . so I hid” (Genesis 3:10 NIV). People have been doing that ever
since. We’re afraid, so we hide. We hide our true selves.

We don’t let people know what we’re really like. We don’t let them see the inside of us. Why?
Because if we let people know what we’re like and they don’t like it; we’re up a creek without a
paddle. Tough luck. Why am I afraid to tell you who I am? Because if I tell you who I am, and
you don’t like me, I’m in for it. I have no alternative. So we wear masks and we pretend.

Fear does three terrible things to relationships:

1. Fear makes us defensive. We’re afraid to reveal ourselves. We defend ourselves. When
people point out our weaknesses, we retaliate and defend ourselves.

2. Fear keeps us distant. We don’t let people get close to us. We want to withdraw, pull back.
We want to hide our emotions. We don’t want to be open and honest. We become defensive and
distant.

3. Fear makes us demanding. Whenever we’re insecure, and the more insecure we are, the
more we try to control. So we try to have the last word in a relationship. We try to dominate,
control. It’s always a symptom of fear and insecurity.
Where do you get the confidence, the courage, to take the first step in connecting with someone,
to go into a deeper intimacy? Where do you get that courage?

You get it from God’s Spirit in your life. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Holy Spirit,
God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people but to be wise and strong (courageous), and
to love them and enjoy being with them” (LB).

How do you know when you’re filled with God’s Spirit? You’re more courageous in your
relationships. You love people. You enjoy being with them. You’re not afraid of them because
God’s Spirit is in your life. The Bible says “God is love,” and “Love casts out all fear.” The more
of God you have in your life, the less of fear you’re going to have in your life.
So the starting point in connecting with anybody is to pause, pray, and say, “God, give me the
courage to take the first step.” You need to do that now with a person you want to connect with.

You might also like