Wisdom often leads us to adapt and adjust our behavior for greater effectiveness in different situations.

Fear, however, compels us to change our personality for acceptance and approval. Wisdom gives us the confidence to step out of our comfort zones by choice. Fear drives us to a different comfort zone because we do not have the confidence to be who we really are in Jesus! Externally, the differences appear to be minute. But inwardly, they are huge!

One is motivated by wisdom, the other by fear. One comes from total self-confidence while the other comes from total self-rejection. One leads to a better quality of life while the other leads to destruction.

The writer of Proverbs said, “The fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25). When we change who we are, because we are afraid of rejection, we succumb to the fear of man and fall into the snare. A snare is a trap that is used to capture and then kill prey!

What may have begun as a childhood survival mechanism to avoid abuse, rejection, or to gain love can become a tormenting way of life. If it is carried into the teenage years, it leads to a life dominated by peer pressure. By adulthood it can grow into serious emotional imbalance and a total loss of identity!