The potential of a person is not for other people to determine, it is only for other people to encourage. Seeing a person be insecure, unable to talk, and unable to identify their own passions is something which stirs me to action. My heart is moved and many times God’s voice clearly says “speak my truth” – the truth that all people have a purpose, and it’s more than they can imagine, and it scares them to death. The risks involved are almost always the issue. We can’t be stupid, we’ve been given knowledge for a reason, however, and the knowledge is a tool, not the means. For me, faith comes into play when what I know God is asking, is impossible without Him.
Many times I realize that if I am dwelling on how God will come through, I just end up waiting longer and longer – it’s when I surrender, straight away or quickly after a quick panic, that God begins to show me/us the blessings – and usually it is in ways that I would never have done on my own. Surrendering is the key, without surrender, it becomes a burden, and I know that once something feels like a burden I am not letting God be in control. I have found these last few ideas to be the greatest confidence building tools for myself, and I have witnessed others take these steps and become amazing leaders as well.
Bottom line (not to be read as reducing to a pat Christian “answer”, but rather encompassing everything above into a thought producing idea for further pondering): When fear arises, what does God say? Is it a risk to do what God asks? When you address the fear speak with the authority you have been given (see the end of any of the Gospels and what Jesus says to the disciples, and us, the descendants)!