The Manifest Victory: Where Faith Meets Action

A Woman Standing in the Middle of a Maze, Facing the Challenge of Figuring Out a Solution to a Problem.

Several thousand scientists and federal workers are furloughed, and many of them are women. Although I used a metaphor of a swimmer, I wrote this article to inspire courage and resolve. This will also pass.

The fear of water is primal. It grips, it paralyzes, and for many, it prevents them from experiencing simple joy and profound freedom of swimming.

I was watching a coach patiently guiding and coaching an adult who was fearful of swimming in the pool today. And this struck me, and I was deep in thought because of what the adult was saying, thinking of how we reconcile a profound belief in divine strength with the very real, often overwhelming experience of fear. And more specifically, for those of us who lean from scripture, how do we manifest the promise that talks about overcoming fear, like this favorite scripture I heard the mentee recite “God does not give me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7) when our bodies are screaming the opposite?

This experience of fear is not limited to swimming, but to every fear that holds us back, from starting a business, especially for scientists who have lost their jobs or for a federal worker who has been furloughed, to speaking our truth. The secret lies in our understanding that faith is not a passive wish; however, it’s a profound catalyst supported with intentional action.

Here’s my attempt to define the cycle of victory that bridges the gap between spiritual assurance and practical triumph:

The Divine Provision: Cultivating a Sound Mind

How do we cultivate a sound mind? The journey begins with an unshakeable truth. We are all gifted with the Spirit of Power and a Sound Mind, which is the inherent capacity for victory over created things. This is our spiritual superpower. As a spiritual being, this superpower is designed not to make fear vanish magically, but to provide the clarity, courage, and composure to confront it. Let’s consider the person who is afraid of swimming.

The “sound mind” begins with the initial courage to step to the water’s edge, even when your instincts scream “danger.” It’s the clarity and understanding that people can master the physics of water, thereby overriding the primal, fearful panic. This is where faith does its foundational work, quieting the internal noise long enough to consider a different path.

The Practical Application: From Belief to Blueprint

The Sound Mind isn’t just internal peace; it’s the ability to think, plan, and execute a strategy swimming. To manifest victory, we must apply this clarity to a disciplined, systematic effort. Courage, though vital, is merely the fuel; strategy is the engine.

• Strategic Planning: Breaking the overwhelming fear into manageable, safe, and logical steps. For the fearful swimmer, the strategy isn’t “swim 200 meters immediately,” but rather:

• Phase 1: Master Breath Control. Step 1: Get comfortable putting your face in the water. Step 2: Practice exhaling entirely underwater until it’s natural.

• Phase 2: Achieve Buoyancy. Step 1: Learn to float on your back. Step 2: Learn to float on your stomach.

  
  

• This detailed plan deconstructs the “drowning” monster into a series of achievable, low-threat tasks.

  
  

• Persistent Action: This is the rub. It’s the consistent, sometimes uncomfortable, effort that proves the plan works.

  
  

• In Swimming: This means showing up daily to the pool, even when your body instinctively resists. It’s the tenth time you put your face under, the twentieth time you practice floating, and the hundredth stroke that finally begins to feel like progress. This persistent engagement slowly rewires the brain, replacing panic with muscle memory and confidence. It's about feeling determined and resilient, knowing that every effort brings you closer to your goal.

The Sustaining Force: Growth Through Grace and Guidance

The process of conquering deep-seated fear is rarely linear. Setbacks are inevitable, and how we respond to them determines whether we truly achieve victory.

• Courageous Correction (Accountability): The sound mind is humble enough to review results honestly and adjust the strategy. It understands that failure isn’t final, it’s feedback.

  
  

• In Swimming: If you panic, swallow water, and retreat, the correction is to analyze what went wrong (Did I rush? Was my head position off?). It’s the willingness to slow down, perfect a specific technique, or even take a step back to re-master a previous skill, rather than abandoning the goal.

  
  

• Grace and Self-Compassion: Crucially, we must extend grace to ourselves to return to the plan after every setback. Fear often breeds harsh self-judgment, which can be as paralyzing as the fear itself. Grace allows us to forgive ourselves, to understand that setbacks are part of the journey, and to continue moving forward. It’s about feeling understood and accepted, even in the face of our deepest fears.

  
  

• In Swimming: When a surge of fear causes you to grasp the side of the pool, like realizing the furlough is real, grace allows you to forgive the momentary panic, take a deep breath, and immediately try the next small, safe step again. It prevents a single mistake from turning into a final defeat, reinforcing resilience.

  
  

• Seeking Wise Guidance: While the battle is personal, we don’t have to fight it alone. A coach or mentor provides invaluable external strategy, safety, and objective feedback.

  
  

• In Swimming: The instructor isn’t just teaching strokes; they are the external “sound mind” providing a safe environment, breaking down skills, and offering encouragement until the swimmer internalizes their own confidence. This external accountability is a powerful accelerant to internal mastery.

True Victory: Freedom and Unshakable Confidence

This cycle of courage, plan, action, correction, and grace doesn’t just eliminate a specific fear; it releases a more profound sense of purpose and freedom. You move from being trapped by a particular challenge to being empowered to navigate any current in life. This newfound freedom is a testament to the transformative power of faith, strategy, and grace in overcoming fear. It’s about feeling free, not just overcoming a fear. It’s about feeling capable and in control, ready to face any challenge life presents.

True victory is not just being able to cross the pool; it’s the unshakable confidence that you are equipped, spiritually, mentally, and practically, to face any challenge life presents. This empowerment is a testament to the transformative power of a sound mind and a strategic plan, even in the face of the deepest fears, turning those fears into stepping stones toward a life of boundless possibility. It’s about feeling confident, not just overcoming fear.

By Dr. Ayo Olufade

Do not let anyone, not even your own thoughts, deceive you into believing you don’t belong. Guard your heart—never let the world or its circumstances alter it. ~ Dr. Ayo Olufade