Over the next few weeks, I will be blogging on the enemies of our purpose and how to defeat them. Knowing the enemies of your purpose is essential in helping you fulfill your purpose. The chief enemies of your purpose are fear, doubt, and unbelief. This triad masks themselves under different labels and names but rests assured, they are at the root of every purpose blocking mechanism.
Fear
Fear can manifest itself in various ways. There is healthy fear and unhealthy fear. Healthy fear alerts you that something dangerous is impending and that you must act. Unhealthy fear is debilitating. It stops you from acting. There are many passages of scripture that address fear. But within the context of fulfilling purpose, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul and how encouraged his protégé, Timothy:
I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News (2 Timothy 1: 5-8, NLT)
Paul was facing imprisonment and had to encourage Timothy to remain faithful to his calling, gifting, and purpose. He had to edify Timothy and remind him that God has not given them the spirit of fear and timidity.
Fear can creep in no matter how well gifted you are to accomplish your purpose. It can cause you to shrink back from taking healthy risks to move forward into the will of God for your life.
Doubt
Doubt can be defined as a feeling of uncertainty or a lack of conviction. It is essentially wavering between two opinions. Within the context of purpose, doubt is manifested in what psychologists and other clinical practitioners term as the “Imposter Syndrome.”
The imposter syndrome is defined as a “collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success” [1] I am reminded of Gideon in Judges 6. The Angel of the LORD appeared to him and affirmed Gideon as a “Mighty Man of Valor” (Judges 6:12). But Gideon attempted to come up with a litany of reasons why he was not the person for the job to be Israel’s Judge and Deliver (Judges 6:15). Essentially Gideon believed a narrative about himself that was not in line with who God affirmed him to be. Doubt is undoubtedly a purpose saboteur!
Unbelief
There is a difference between doubt and unbelief. While doubt involves uncertainty, unbelief essentially does not even entertain the idea that what should be believed can be believed. It is essentially a willful refusal to believe. For instance, there are many scriptures that tell of our identity in Christ and that God has called us to great things in the world for Christ’s Glory and His Kingdom, but we choose not to believe. So, we go through life not willing to step out and change the world although God has called us to be “salt” and light”. Unbelief will say that you and I cannot make a difference!
It is important to recognize enemies of fear, doubt, and unbelief and develop tactics to overcome them so you can pursue your great and transform your world. Which one of these enemies do you struggle with the most?
[1] Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. (2019, December 2). Harvard Business Review. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://hbr.org/2008/05/overcoming-imposter-syndrome#:%7E:text=Imposter%20syndrome%20can%20be%20defined,external%20proof%20of%20their%20competence.