Seven-Day Practical Faith Blog: Fear Masks Itself as Common Sense

Have you ever known the right thing to do but didn't do it?

When I managed a high tech department, I identified four components of problem solving among my staff: (1) Identifying a problem exists (2) Identifying alternatives (3) Selecting the right alternative (4) Implementing the right alternative.

You would be surprised how many people can execute the first three but hesitate on the fourth, which I termed "decisiveness."

They feared when it came time to implement. They became indecisive, thinking of ways it could go wrong. They knew the right thing to do but didn't do it.

I feel like we do the same thing in our faith life. We hide behind "common sense" when Christ asks us to do something risky. In reality, we are fearful.

The late motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, identified four ways fear disguises itself as common sense:

1. Timing. "It's not the right time." I have used this argument on Jesus many times. It's one reason I delayed starting this ministry.

2. Inadequacy: "I'm not the right person." Moses used this argument on God many times, as in Exodus 3:11 (NIV): But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

3. Consequence: We paint the worst possible outcome as the most likely. My mother only flew on a plane a couple of times in her life, and only then to see her newborn grandbabies. She was convinced any plane she used would crash.

4. Responsibility: Fear twists genuine duty and love for others into a permanent reason to stay still and avoid uncertain outcomes. This argument allows us to hide behind a noble cause in order to not make a move. Several people tried this with Jesus, like the man in Luke 9:59-60 (NIV).

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Here's the bottom line: When Jesus calls us to give up a comfort zone to enter his trust zone, it often doesn't make sense to our earth-oriented minds. We can always think of ways to stall and avoid Christ's command; I certainly have. But Jesus persists because he knows what's best for us and what's best for his kingdom.

Think about this the next time you feel the Spirit moving you to do something that feels risky. Park your "common sense." Be decisive. Step out in faith. Allow the Spirit to work through you and to help you manage the consequences.

How do you know what comfort zones you have? The most common reaction I receive from readers of my book and video study "From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone" is "You showed me comfort zones I didn't even know I had!" Click on Books & Videos and select "From Comfort Zone to Trust Zone" to learn how to stop disguising fear as common sense.