If you’ve read anything about the Enneagram, you know that each type has a basic fear alongside a core weakness, desire, and longing. Other personality assessments might be catalog similar behaviors and label them in a way that entitles us to experience or own a behavior. Instead, Heidi Priebe of the ThoughtCatalog.com writes that the Enneagram is meant to be a “growth inventory of fears and motivations, in order to facilitate personal growth…”
Identifying the fear of your Enneagram number isn’t enough, and it certainly doesn’t mean you should linger in that fear. Instead, it’s meant to give insight on particular areas of growth you can purse. Jill E. McCormick’s post on Enneagram Fears reminds us we should be pursing God-centered habits for shedding fears especially once we’ve identified them.
We’ve listed out a few particularly insightful devotionals from the popular YouVersion Bible App to help bring truth to a particular fear you might be facing based on the Enneagram number you lead with. Also make sure to check out our updated Devotionals & Resources for each Enneagram Type next.
Enneagram 1: The Reformer
The basic fear for an Enneagram 1 is being corrupt or evil. With a tendency towards righteousness, Enneagram 1’s can lean into judgemental and critical as a result of their fear.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re feeling imperfect:
Enneagram 2: The Helper
The basic fear of an Enneagram 2 is of being unloved. Operating in fear can make an Enneagram 2 look like needy, overbearing and/or prideful.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re feeling unloved:
Enneagram 3: The Achiever
For an Enneagram 3, the fear is of being worthless. As a result, Enneagram 3’s can become image-focused, obsessive about achievement, and impatient.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re feeling worthless:
Enneagram 4: The Individualist
Being insignificant is a worst-case fear for the Enneagram 4. An Enneagram 4 operating in fear might look moody, egoistical, or depressed.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re feeling insignificant:
Enneagram 5: The Investigator
As an Enneagram 5, nothing is to be avoided more than the fear of being incompetent. Typically, this fear leads to being overwhelmed and isolated.
Check out these YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’ve feeling overwhelmed:
Enneagram 6: The Loyalist
Normally committed and responsible, the Enneagram 6’s worst fear is being without support. This will produce an unhealthy Enneagram 6 that looks anxious, fearful, and full of doubt.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re feeling anxious:
Enneagram 7: The Enthusiast
Avoiding fear and pain is the goal for an Enneagram 7, who never wants to encounter their biggest fears. As a result, this can produce a scattered, impulsive, and non-committal Enneagram 7.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re experiencing pain:
Enneagram 8: The Challenger
No one’s going to hurt or control me! This is the underwriting motivation of Enneagram 8’s as a result of their biggest fear. This can produce aggressive, angry, and intimidating behaviors.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when you’re feeling threatened:
The Enneagram 9: The Peacemaker
The biggest fear of our Enneagram 9’s is being separated from others in the midst of a conflict. As a result, the typical Peacemakers, can become passive-aggressive, compliant, and stubborn.
YouVersion Bible Studies to Explore when your peace is challenged:
Do you have a particular devotional or book you’ve read that’s helped you overcome the fear most dominant in your Enneagram number? We’d love for you to comment and below.
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who had
been doing a little homework on this. And he
in fact ordered me dinner simply because I stumbled upon it for him…
lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this topic here on your web
page.
Oh fun! Thanks for sharing!