Fear is a natural part of life. Really. Our bodies have a built-in fight-or-flight mechanism that triggers when we become fearful. So how do we overcome fear? Do we even want to?
How to Overcome Fear
Table of Contents
If you ever asked yourself “Why am I so scared of everything?” or “How can I train my mind to overcome fear?” then you’re not alone. Most people who are fearful want to overcome their fear. Because the trouble with fear is that it doesn’t confine itself to those moments when you’re in danger. No, the moment you give in to fear, it starts creeping into—and taking over—every area of your life.
So how do we overcome our fear? Here are three quick tips.
1. It starts with taking every thought captive. The apostle Paul encouraged the church at Corinth to capture every thought and subject it to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This process of thinking about what we’re thinking about is important. If we don’t examine what we think about, we won’t be able to identify the areas we’re most fearful. We won’t be able to expose the lies of the enemy.
2. Replace lies with truth. Where do you find truth in a world that changes the narrative to suit whatever agenda is being pushed?
The Bible tells us that the Word of God is truth (John 17:17). Jesus Himself said He was the truth (John 14:6). It, therefore, means that we need to immerse ourselves in the Word of God so we can know the truth.
3. Prepare for battle. This process of overcoming our fear is not a one-time event. Sadly, we will have to do it many times in our lifetimes, sometimes battling the same fears. The good news is that God has already equipped us with everything we need to be successful (Psalm 18:39).
This idea of the importance of facing our fears is one I contemplated as I read She Reigns.
She Reigns Review
What are you afraid of? In She Reigns, Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien answers this question frankly by sharing sections of her diary. She encourages readers to do the hard work of soul-searching to root out our fears and the lies we believe.
Ms. Saint-Elien maintains that we are queens, regardless of how we feel or what the enemy convinces us to believe.
“Once you identify your triggers, fears, and worries, you’ll be ready to combat them with God’s thoughts toward you.”
This thought resounded throughout the book. Ms. Saint-Elien showed us various techniques for harnessing our thoughts and replacing lies with truth. I especially enjoyed how transparent she was with her own struggles.
She Reigns is divided into three sections:
- Confessions,
- Combat, and
- Crowned.
In Confessions, Tarah-Lynn opens up about her fears and the things she struggles with. She brings us into her thought process by sharing her experiences and journal entries.
In Combat, she gives us tools to begin our fight against the enemy. She encourages us to identify and root out negative thoughts. To use the Word of God as a weapon. And to live true to our identities as daughters of God.
In Crowned, Ms. Saint-Elien reminds us of who we are in Christ.
Each chapter has a series of reflection questions that encourage you to make the lessons of the chapter personal to you. These are some deep questions, so you’re going to want a journal and a pen as you work through them.
I found this book to be insightful and honest, but my favorite part was the final chapter. In The Kingdom Perspective, Ms. Saint-Elien pronounces a blessing over the reader using Scripture to reinforce every line. You will come away from this book feeling encouraged, and ready to tackle the challenges life has tossed at you.
Readers of She Reigns will be reminded that we can count on God. Though it sometimes seems we’re walking through our challenges alone, He has not forsaken us.
Readers are also reminded that we should be serious about maintaining a relationship with God. Not one based on fear, but on reverence and love.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher through NetGalley and JustRead Publicity Tours; a positive review was not required.
Favorite Quotes from She Reigns
No one may know your deepest, darkest secrets, thoughts, and feelings, but God sees you for who you really are. He cares that we don’t remain the same.
…it is pivotal to speak God’s promises in spite of what you see and feel.
Satan doesn’t want you to understand that you are saved by grace through faith. 1 He wants you to focus on good works, duties, and the distractions of this world. He doesn’t want you to cast your cares on God. 2 He wants you to sleep with your fears, to coddle them, to feed them in your heart and surrender to them in the battlefield of your mind.
There’s a difference between fearing God out of reverence and fearing God out of the belief He is gleefully waiting to shoot us down to hell with one wrong move.
The enemy likes to get you early in life. He isolates you in your thoughts; he makes you feel as if there’s something wrong with you that cannot be fixed. But life is a journey of constant discovery and recovery.
We mustn’t take so much pride in who we think we are that we don’t give God the room to do a work and show us who we have the power to be. We mustn’t hold our old selves or certain personality traits as a banner. The Lord alone is our banner.
When we are ignorant of the power of our Father and the identity He gives us, we leave room for the enemy to feed us lies about what we deserve.
About She Reigns
If you’re a believer, God has given you a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Yet how often do you feel assaulted by fear, worry, anxiety, or negative thoughts?
Unpacking personal heartbreaks, struggles, and never shared before confessions, Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien gives you an intimately empowering look at how to reign over your thoughts and feelings as God intended.
Snippets of her journal entries will assure you that you’re not alone and will encourage you to speak God’s promises in spite of what you see and feel. You will be given the weapons to identify your triggers, take negative thoughts and debilitating emotions captive, and posture your heart for delight.
Trials and dangers may abound, but you are a queen who does not cower in the face of difficulty. By God’s power, you can reign supreme over your inner world.
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About Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien
Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien is the fashion editor for Cosmopolitan magazine, host of the Dressed for Battle podcast, and founder of Adorned in Armor ministry.
The fierce and favored fashionista was a finalist in the 2023 Miss Supranational Haiti beauty pageant and placed first runner up, Miss Elegance, and Miss Woman Empowerment—just a small testament to her heart for women. A love-driven and multi-hyphenated millennial, her desire is to demonstrate how to live purposefully and dream big in unconventional spaces.
Tarah-Lynn graduated summa cum laude from Rider University and earned her master’s degree from Syracuse University in Journalism Innovation. Crowned Miss Black New Jersey in 2018, she is the author of She Reigns, Claim Your Crown and Love Letters from the King.
You can catch the Haitian-American beauty queen sharing her style, life, and encouraging words via Instagram (@iamtarahlynn), YouTube (Adorned in Armor), and www.tarahlynnadorned.com.
Follow Tarah-Lynn along at adornedinarmor.com | @iamtarahlynn | @adornedinarmor | YouTube: Adorned in Armor
