Spiders

They had gotten to the Lake on Friday and Mel and I and Tom and Rebecka would join the rest of the family on Saturday. I walked through the door and the grandkids came running but before I could even put my things down, William and Blake, (Catherine trailing) with great enthusiasm, told me that there was something that I had to see. I told them to hang on a minute and we would go check out whatever it was. They stayed close by my side and then William said, "Sassy, this is really going to scare you, come on and see, its upstairs!" Knowing that if I didn't go soon they might pop, I let them escort me upstairs and I played along with their hunt. The giggles just got louder, and they held my hand and showed me my bed, which looked very similar to the way I had left it, neatly made, pillows in order etc. "You are going to be really scared, go, look under the covers, they wailed in laughter. And sure enough when I looked under the pillows and pulled back the covers they were several, very realistic, assorted colored spiders strategically placed so that it would be scary. (thank you Jamie) I screamed and did the best dramatic performance that could muster up and then grabbed them and asked who put those scary things in my bed, and tickled them till they could hardly breathe. They were pleased, there trick had generated a great reaction and all was well.

I was cleaning out my purse this morning and there those spiders were. I had put them in there as a reminder to return them to their rightful owners. The boys knew where the fear factor was hidden. And instead of waiting for it to surprise me, they escorted me right to it and I was ready for something, I didn't know what, to jump out at me. But I had been escorted to the place of fear and I knew that whatever it was, it couldn't be so bad if a four year old and a five year old were involved. But if they had not been so excited and let this deal roll out on its own, I probably would have been taken a back at day's end when bedtime came around, and the covers were pulled back.

Fear, it is a hidden factor that catches us off guard and lurks in the quietness and darkened vault of our hearts ready to rear its ugly head and catch us off guard. The "what if's" that creep into our minds are huge fear factor. But as I was thinking about my two little escorts, it occurred to me that God has sent each of us two little escorts of our own to accompany us on our life journey. They may not always know where the fear may lie, or be able to warn us before the covers are pulled back, but they will always be a shield to help us face fear it when it does arise. Their names are faith and trust.

I once heard it said that when fear comes knocking at your door, step back and let faith answer it. We are all subjected to situations that are out of our control, senarios that have the potential to send us reeling, ingrained fears that are grown out of insecurities etc. And God knows where each of them are lurking. But if we hold the hands of faith and trust, God's commanded warriors, and let them be our forerunners, we are able to face the fears in confidence and not be rattled by their sudden and frightening appearance.

The thing about fear is that if we let it it will paralyze us and keep us from achieving our best for God's purposes. Fear is the exclamation point of discouragement, failure, anxiety and disconnect. Our fears are generated by past experiences, as well as not knowing what the outcome of something will be. If we allow fear to be the driving force of our operation, then it seems to me that our driving time will be quite limited because fear has a tendency, as I have experienced and maybe you have to, to either move at a snails's pace or just sit still. It is faith and trust that allows us to move mountains. A faith in our living, loving and present God. And accompanying faith is trust. If we allow these two to take our hands and escort us through life, that is where we will be lifted in courage and strength to forge forward in spite of the fear obstacles that are before us. God does not want us to be discouraged or afraid but rather move in confidence that he is with us and will care for us whoever we go. God will never ask us to do something that he has not given us the strength for, or encourage us to go to places that he has not already forged.

If fear has gripped you or is gripping you now and you are trying desperately to struggle out of the grips of its entanglement, just quietly take a minute and prayerfully meditate on the power of these words. Pick one, just one of them and hold it loosely and carry it with you wherever you go.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Psalm 115:11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD-- he is their help and shield.
Psalm 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--
Psalm 112:1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.
Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Isaiah 41:10 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 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.
Isaiah 54:4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ""Abba," Father."
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
1 Peter 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

There were spiders in my bed, but they were not real and I was warned by my two little escorts that something was coming. We may not have the warning, when fear is lurking, but we surely have God's escorts. And on that truth we can stand firmly, no matter what obstacles are placed in our path. Fears are personal giants that are slain by faith and trust in our almighty God.

Dear Lord, we all are caught off guard by fearful expectations, or fear driven desires, or fear staking situations. Help us to depend of the escorts of faith and trust to lift us above the darkening grips of those fears. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!