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By Barry Buzza
AS I understand it, we’re born with only two
fears: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. Often, it’s
in our early years that we develop additional fears.
Among the 10 top fears North Americans report they
have, the most prevalent three were of snakes, heights and public speaking.
My counsel to people who live with anxiety and phobias
is usually two-pronged.
 One is to read the Bible regularly. Knowing that God
created me, has good plans for my life and that he’s ultimately in
charge, feeds my courage. I know that if I place my life in his hands,
it’s all going to be okay.
But the second prong of my prescription is equally
important. It is to align my own words with what God says about me.
For example, the Bible says every person has been given
a unique and significant purpose in life. It also says God loves each of us
and has plans for our success.
We often say just the opposite to ourselves, things
such as: “I’m a nobody. I’m a failure. Nobody loves me.
I’ll never succeed at anything. I can’t get a job –
nobody would ever want me.” If I say such things, after knowing what
the Bible says about me, then my words, rather than God’s words,
shape my life and the world around me.
If you remember the cartoon about Little Jinx, who
always walked with a cloud over his head, you’ll understand that what
we say about ourselves affects not only our facial expressions, tone of
voice and body language, but also the way people respond to us.
Consider some of the Proverbs that Solomon wrote about
the power of our words. These truths apply when I am speaking of myself or
someone else.
“Kind words are like honey – enjoyable and
healthy . . . The words of the wise soothe and heal . . . Gentle words
cause life and health; griping brings discouragement . . . Rash language
cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise . . .
Gracious speech is like clover honey, good taste to the soul, quick energy
for the body.”
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Little Jinx believed he walked under a cloud wherever
he went; but the fact is, we create our own cloud, or we create our own
sunshine. Research has shown that feel-good endorphins are actually
produced in us when we speak positively (like God does), about ourselves
and others.
Often, when a person comes to me with a serious case of
anxiety, I will give them a prescription.
It’s not for a pill, or a daily dose of some foul
tasting medicine, but simply a list of positive truths that God says about
that person. My counsel is that they go to bed at night with one of those
thoughts in mind, such as: “I know the plans that I have for
you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm
you. I want to give you a future and a hope.” There are many other
similarly helpful verses.
I say to memorize one of these verses and repeat it to
yourself as you’re falling asleep, and often throughout the day.
Because it is rooted in truth, and not in fanciful
daydreams, God’s promise is that, like honey, it will taste good for
your soul and give quick energy to your body.
Barry Buzza is lead pastor of Northside Church in Port
Coquitlam, and president of The Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada.
October 2008
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