I had someone ask me, “What are you afraid of?” Although it was an interesting question, I wasn’t sure how to answer it. My quick wit was not actively engaged at the moment, as I couldn’t come up with anything all that profound. I filed the question away in my mind so I could mull it over for a while and maybe come up with an original answer.
That same afternoon I was running errands and had to stop by home for something. I don’t remember what I needed, but I parked my car in the garage and ran in the house for about two seconds. When I got back in my car, I heard a familiar buzz by the passenger window. I looked over and saw a wasp had somehow managed to get into the car in the few moments I was inside the house. The car doors were closed. The driver’s window was up, but the passenger window was down about two inches. How that wasp found his way inside the car so quickly is a mystery.
I’ve been stung quite a few times and am very allergic to stings of any type, especially bees and wasps. I’m not allergic enough for the stings to be deadly. However, I am allergic enough to be rewarded with a trip to Urgent Care for a few hours of monitoring if stung by one of the nasty little creatures.
I completely panicked. When I tried to get out of the car, I locked myself in. Every time I pushed the “unlock” button, I was actually pushing the “lock” button. The harder I tried to get out of the car, the more panicked I became. I must have pushed that wrong button and pulled the handle to open the door ten times before I realized what I was doing wrong. Somehow, as I was frantically hitting buttons, I unknowingly managed to get the driver’s side window down. I was contemplating climbing out the window to get away from the wasp when I finally realized what I was doing wrong and opened the door.
I practically fell out the door then quickly ducked behind it. I slowly reached my hand through the driver’s window and pushed the button to open the passenger side window, utterly convinced the little devil-bug was going to see my hand and make…sorry for the pun…a beeline for it. As the passenger window slid down, the wasp made his escape and flew directly over the car, right at me. As it came toward my side of the car, I again ducked behind the door, like Marine dodging a bullet. Now, crouching on the garage floor, I waited, looking around, convinced the wasp was going to do another flyby and complete its mission to cause me pain and discomfort. It did not. At that moment, I realized I now had at least one valid answer to the question asked earlier that morning.
A few moments later, when I realized the excitement was over, I picked myself up off the garage floor and started to laugh. How hilarious those few moments would have been to watch. Someone could have made some serious money if they had recorded the event.
We learn from our experiences, which is a good thing. But sometimes we learn so well we become afraid and our judgment becomes impaired. We over-react, over-analyze, and over-think. Have you ever tried with all your heart to accomplish something, but you never could get it quite right, or the end result wasn’t even close to what you were striving for? Have you ever put yourself out there only to be ridiculed, misunderstood, or hurt? Have you ever loved someone but were so hurt you vowed never to love again? These experiences can condition us to become fearful and to expect the worst possible outcomes.
Do you know almost every book in the Bible has the words “fear not” in it? We are challenged every day to be courageous. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” And Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
I knew someone who walked away from the only thing that brought him joy at a very challenging time in his life. He did this because he was afraid. He was fearful of losing the one thing that made him happy. There were no guarantees of a happy ending. However, by walking away, he did guarantee he would miss out on whatever happy times were remaining. Sometimes we forget that every situation does not end in sorrow and defeat. There are lessons to be learned, and experiences to be shared. By giving up, we are passing by some of the most interesting, exciting, and rewarding times of our lives. Let’s focus on being courageous, not fearful. Let’s learn to practice faith, not fear.
Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will. Max Lucado
Wishing you joy and peace,
Lorrie