50 Days of Transformation - Emotional Health

Facing the Fears the Ruin Relationships
Genesis 3:1-18

God loves you just the way you are.  He loves you unconditionally.  But he loves you too much to let you stay that way.  So he wants to help you grow.  He wants to help you become more like his Son.

If you can’t handle relationships, you can’t handle life.

The search for a friend is like the search for a home.  We want a place to be ourselves; to be accepted.  The person in that place is our friend.

Every relationship must seek its proper level.  No one can be required or expected to be our close friend.

I. How Our Fears Ruin Relationships  Genesis 3:9-10

A. The fear of exposure makes me distant.

As long as you are in denial or fear to face your problem there’s no recovery or transformation.

Vulnerability is a characteristic of strong and intimate relationships but requires deep trust.

God doesn’t want you to fake it but face it when it comes to fear in relationships.

Three Phases of Fear in a Relationship

Phase 1:  Shame Genesis 3:7a

Shame says I am wrong, guilt says I did wrong.

The fear of being rejected if someone knows our weakness keeps us from intimate relationships.

Phase 2:  Cover up Genesis 3:7a

Phase 3:  Distance from God Genesis 3:8

God doesn’t expect you to be perfect but he does expect you to be honest.

B. The fear of disapproval makes me defensive. Genesis 3:12

The Dance Of Destruction.  Couples do not have a lot of fights; they just have the same one over and over.

C. The fear of accountability does not excuse.   Genesis 3:16

II. Overcoming Fear with God’s Love  1 John 4:18

Perfect love casts out fear because it is intentional love not emotional love.

Jesus Understands! Hebrews 4:15-16

Being a Friend of God

·      I’m completely accepted.  Titus 3:7

·      I’m unconditionally loved.  Isaiah 54:10

·      I’m totally forgiven.  Romans 8:1

·      I’m extremely valuable.  1 Corinthians 6:20