I find that my daughters’ cartoons have many valuable lessons. This one was on facing fears. As I recently had an experience with a very real fear, this one hit home. This whole episode centered on a made up character. They talked about it and shared it so many times that it became a much bigger fear to all those around them. When they finally came face to face with the supposedly scary character, it turned out that it too had been scared and was in hiding – and instead of being some major force to be reckoned with, they turned out to be two baby animals, but they were hidden in the shadows – made bigger by the shadows.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV states ‘For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, and love, and of a sound mind.’ Sometimes we fear things we do not know, and that keeps us from experiencing life the way God intended. I think of how long I delayed writing because of so many excuses. I’m sure fear was one of them. Fear of rejection. Fear of being judged because of my past. Fear of others reading what I write and it being found lacking. But for every excuse I could think to come up with, God reminded me that it was not my call – it was His and He would do what He needed to do. As I look back over the last 6 months of publicly sharing my writing, I could not imagine nor foresee the blessings that could have resulted. I could have allowed fear to stop me in my tracks – and it almost did, had I not been given such clear instructions about what I needed to do – it might have.
I’m sure there are many stories of people facing their fears in the bible, but the one that I was reminded of is David and Goliath. Geesh. Imagine little David going into battle with Goliath. Even the trained soldiers “fled from him in great fear.” 1 Samuel 17:24b. There was a lot on the line if David lost the battle. If they lost, they would become the Philistines’ subjects and have to serve them. But there was so much more to be gained, if David won the battle, i.e. kill Goliath. The Philistines would become the subjects of the Israelites – and would finally be free of Goliath’s taunting. That’s a lot of pressure for one small boy. But David knew who he served and what God had done in the past. He had been able kill both a lion and a bear when they threatened his sheep. We all know the end result of this battle. David did not let his fear, or the fear of those around him to affect what he had to do, because he knew his God.
What fears are you afraid of facing? God is asking you to look over your past, and look how He has carried you in the past and wants you to remember that He is the same God, yesterday, today and forever, but you must trust Him.
Dear Heavenly father, we thank you for your beautiful reminders of your love for us and that we can trust you, even when we face fears and uncertainties. Thank you for all you do for us.