Powerful, Yet Fearful!
by Mickeve Regis
On a Friday afternoon during a Professional Development session at an elementary school, the new school principal strode in reciting a poem by Marianne Williamson called Our Greatest Fear. A poem said to be quoted by Nelson Mandela.
I sat in my chair listening to the intonation of her voice reciting the words on the paper before me, and an overwhelming feeling over took me. I felt a surge of energy run through my body. The words continued to flow out of her mouth with such conviction that by the end of it, I felt empowered.
I thought to myself, who is this young leader that speaks with such confidence and has chosen this very poem as an introduction to how she identifies herself and her purpose?
The poem begins with, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."
What comes up for you when you read those two statements?
Hearing it for the first time, I realized I had never thought of fear in that way. Fear of public speaking and heights, of course, but the notion that our biggest fear is how powerful we can be on this earth took digging deeper.
More times than not our fears serve as comfortable containers that keep us from growth and evolution.
The word fear is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger; or anxious concern. Let's focus on this portion of the definition: 'an often strong emotion by anticipation'. So true!! We are fearful of an anticipated or imagined danger and not an actual one, which supports that we fear the unknown. Internalizing that I am awesome, wonderful and powerful beyond measure through Jesus Christ can be a bit scary. It feels like I’m stepping into unknown territory. How about you?
Is it possible that we are we most afraid of who we can be in the guiding hands of our Savior because we have not fully understood and/or accepted our full identities in Him?
Scripture states that there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). I don't know about you, but I have a hard time making sense of this as I know God's love is unconditional and I belong to Him. Still, I struggle with fear; fear of the unknown, fear of rejection, abandonment, and being left out.
Take time and think about it! What are the things or events that bring up the most uncertainty and fear in you?
Now, I face the fact that my deepest fear is to live out my purpose in complete power and authority through Jesus Christ. When we think of it in this way, it is liberating. We are called to live out our purpose. The things that cause us the most fear take the upmost courage to walk through. Jesus commands us out of fear and gives us unconditional, agape love instead. It's through Him that all things are possible. We no longer have to be limited by fear. Jesus has our backs and will give us the courage to act in the face of fear.
If you and I let go and surrender what causes fear, then God will have more room to transform us and make us more like Him.
Mickeve Regis is a first generation Haitian-American woman born to Haitian parents in Boston, MA. She attended the University of Connecticut for her Bachelors and went on to the University of Pennsylvania for her Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development. After earning her graduate degree, she joined the Peace Corps and served for 2.5 years. Then, she began her work as a Behavioral Specialist at an elementary school in Hartford, CT. She learned the value of patience, perseverance and empowerment. She is currently certified as a Personal Development and Health Coach. She works as a Client Service Manager at a Pregnancy Resource Center in Middletown, CT. Mickeve feels privileged to have the opportunity to empower women and families on a daily basis and help people become change agents in their own lives. To check out Mickeve's blog, click here.