What are you afraid of?

Faith & Inspiration

By Charles Towne

Looking back, can you think of something, anything, that really scared you? Maybe it was when that big bully at school threatened to rip your head off and make you eat dirt Your big sister had fed you dirt and you didn’t like the taste very much, so you didn’t want to eat dirt, again. And just thinking about having your head ripped off sounded like it might be sorta painful, so, like any normal six year old, you ran away.

Fast forward a couple years and that real pretty girl, (Beverly was her name) smiled at you; yes she actually smiled at you! And again, you were so afraid you ran away and went fishing. (You can see there was nothing wrong with my priorities.)

I can still remember being so scared I shook. Yes, trembling is definitely one of the symptoms, as are sweaty palms, a racing heart, along with rapid breathing. All of these can be symptomatic of fear.

(This is all sorta strange because I had these same symptoms when I proposed to my wife? But that can’t be the same thing, can it?!)

Fear can be extremely debilitating.

There are many good reasons for being afraid, of course. In fact, fear and phobias, come in all shapes, colors and sizes.

Can you imagine anyone being afraid of love? That's a thing. And there is the fear of beautiful women, mirrors, being alone, crowds, and did you know there are some folks that are afraid of thinking? (Come to think of it, I have known quite a few folks that seemed to be afraid of thinking, but I could be wrong.)

We have all heard of claustrophobia, or the fear of small places. And there are people that are afraid of people, all sorts of people: bald people, hairy people, little people, big people, old people, young people, and sick people. There are those that fear spiders and snakes. And there are people that fear flying, getting wet, or afraid of dogs, cats and birds... and the list goes on, and on and on...

Yes, we humans are afraid of almost everything. It might be said that we are a somewhat neurotic bunch, couldn’t it?

So, we have established the fact that we are often afraid, right? But where did our fear come from? Did God give it to us? I don’t think so... but then, just where did fear come from?

And what does God have to say about it?

Well, He might say something like this…

“Are you afraid my dear child? But if you are afraid, if you have a spirit of fear you didn’t get it from me, because I gave you just the opposite. I have given you a spirit of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

PRAYER FOR THE FEARFUL

Dear Holy God, deliver me from all my fears. You have told each of us to not be afraid. You have promised to never leave us alone, and I believe you. Thank you for your great and boundless love. Yes, thank you for your boundless love, O my God. Thank you for your unlimited hope, assurance and constant peace. I love you, O holy One. Thank you for deliverance. In Jesus' blessed name I ask this, Amen

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adopted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy-filled life.