His hands were shaking. His heart was racing. Big puppy dog tears started streaming down his face.
He didn’t want to get on the ride.
Was the ride going to go fast? Was it going to go slow? Would there be sharp turns? Would it go backwards? Would it go upside down? The unknown had completely encompassed his 8 year old body and FEAR had now taken over.
This was what we experienced our first time at Disney over Fall Break. It may have been because the first ride we took the kids on was Tower of Tower (yes…we were those parents), but before we went in anything, he wanted to know EXACTLY what to expect. It was a battle to get him into the seat, but I will say he did it…reluctantly.
This was how most of the rides looked…….
Fear has two definitions.
The “healthy” one is defined by the American Heritage dictionary as extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power. This type of fear is needed.
The fear of the Lord:
- Prolongs life (Proverbs 10:27)
- Provides confidence (Proverbs 14:26-27)
- Is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7)
- Causes us to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 16:6)
- Spares us from much evil and causes a satisfying life (Proverbs 19:23)
The unhealthy one (defined as a feeling of agitation or anxiety caused by the presence of danger) can chain us. It leaves us NOT having peace. It leaves us NOT trusting in the One whom we should trust. It leaves us overwhelmed. It might be why we reminded several times to “Do not fear” or “Fear not” in scripture….
Life is much like a roller coaster. Sometimes we face things that propel us forward. Sometimes we face things that make us feel like we are going backwards. Sometimes things happen that make us feel like we are spiraling out of control.
Waiting results on a biopsy…
Losing a job and not knowing what is coming next…
Loneliness…
Thoughts of failure…
Rejection…
If we don’t keep our eyes on Him during whatever storm is brewing, our faith can waiver.
We have an example of that in Matthew 8:23-27 when Peter and the disciples faced a storm while in a boat that was being tossed by the waves. Jesus began walking out on the water and Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So, Jesus did. When Peter started fixing his eyes on the BOISTEROUS wind instead of Jesus, Peter began to sink.
Harry Emerson Fosdick contrasted fear and faith with these words:
Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable, and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God.
Our eyes need to be FIXED ON HIM ALL THE TIME. We cannot let our FEAR overcome our FAITH.
We are going to have tribulations. We are going to have BOISTEROUS winds in our life. But, we can be rest assured of a wonderful promise. HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD. Jesus tells us this in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He will overcome whatever we may face here on Earth.
If we want peace during the storm, we need to put our FAITH in Him and not our fear in the circumstance.
No matter what you are facing, He will never leave you (Matthew 28:20). That is a promise.
Anchored to Him,
Leigh Ann
