An Attitude of Fearlessness 

by Dan Gray, LCSW

"So to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong and fear not..." (Isaiah 35:4).

I am often asked if there are certain common traits demonstrated by individuals who most successfully deal with their homosexuality. Invariably, one of my most frequent replies is, "an attitude of fearlessness."

Jeff Konrad suggests that in order to succeed, we need to run toward our fears. This does not necessarily mean we need to be fearless before we run. Sometimes we have to act the part before we feel the part. In other words, we will probably have to act fearless before we become fearless. Reading about it, thinking about it, talking about it, and praying about it will lead us only so far. There comes a point when we have to DO IT, even though we fear it.
When we learn to swim we have to first get in the water. Many of us fear the water before we even begin. However, we have to somehow "run toward that fear" and immerse ourselves in it. Only then can we learn to master our challenge and overcome our fear. The fear of the water is what immobilized us, not the water itself.

Our Savior understands our fears. He feared the final moments of his life and asked that he be spared his pain. Then, probably with fear still in his heart, but with an attitude of fearlessness, he faced his destiny and found his eternal reward.

And so I think that he would say again to you and me, "Strengthen ye up the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not."
 

(Reprinted from Journey, volume 4, number 2, March/April 1994, page 1.)