Conquering Your Greatest Fear

If someone asks you the question...

What is your greatest fear?

... what goes through your mind?

At a women's ministry gathering not long ago, we got into small groups and shared our greatest fears with each other, then pray. While it was a bit uncomfortable, I willingly shared my greatest fear, as did the other 4 people in our little circle. We then prayed to release those fears to God and live a fearless life.

We gathered, we prayed, some were set free from those fears, some of which were irrational, some were caused by deep wounds, some were new fears, brought on by recent events.

Now here's where my head took over. As I released my greatest fear (which was being alone - not in a "someone's gonna get me" kind of way, but in a "growing old and having no one to love on this earth" kind of way) and laid it at the foot of the cross, it occurred to me that the concept of something being greatest indicates that it's not the only, but just the biggest or scariest or most significant. That means there are other fears.

The beauty in conquering your greatest fear is that there is a new greatest fear to be conquered.

And it becomes easier.

They're Everywhere

If I had to describe yesterday in one word, it would be wet. It rained all day.

One of the byproducts of a spring rain is worms. They come out of the ground to, well, I don't know why, but they come out.

When I was a kid, I would spend at least a week at my grandma's. She lived on a lake and it was so much fun. I remember digging in her garden for worms and fishing with them. But somewhere along the way, my idea of worms changed. They are no longer a source of fun but a source of fear.

About 10 years ago on a rainy day, not not unlike yesterday, I got home, parked in the garage, closed the garage door and as I turned to walk into the house, I saw them. Hundreds (thousands in my head) of worms on the street, sidewalk, even on the porch (though at first I couldn't see that far). I was paralyzed. I started a conversation in my head trying to get my legs to start moving.

Now my fear wasn't because I thought the worms would harm me. The fear was that I would step on them. It wasn't because I thought I would kill them under my feet (but ewww), but that they would touch me. If I stepped on one, it would get on my shoe and follow me around. I'm so glad no one had a video camera on me because I got as high on my toes as I could and I quickly bobbed and weaved avoiding them as best I could (which was hard because there were so many). I know I stepped on some. Then I got to the door and I had to stop moving to unlock it. I was certain they were crawling on me. I get chills just thinking about it.

So yesterday, as I walked from my car to the office, they were there again. Not as many, but they were there and I avoided them as I do every time I see them. I was feeling anxiety and truthfully, sick to my stomach. I'm not sure where this irrational fear came from, but at least it's a source of entertainment for my family.

As I was thinking about how crazy this is, I was reminded that just like those worms (who are out to get me), temptation is all around. It's unavoidable. I'm going to step in it. It's going to come on harder and stronger when it's cloudy. The Son can't shine when clouds of sin are covering my life. Then I remember that I'm to keep my eyes on Jesus, not on the world around me. If I would have been looking at my destination instead of the path I was on, I would not have noticed the creepy worms. In the same way, if I keep my eyes focused on Jesus, whatever comes along the path will not harm me.

1 Corinthians 10:13: No temptation has siezed you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.

There's always an escape. Even if it means throwing away your shoes after stepping on a few worms.