Facing Your Fears

(2 Corinthians 7:5 KJV) For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. 

There are many ways to study scripture. One way is to study the scripture historically and then apply its principles. Another way of studying the scripture is to put yourself into the scriptural scene for the purpose of understanding the emotions in it.

Over the years I have learned to use both of these methods in order for the “Word of the Lord” to be more real to me. It depends on the actual scripture as to which one of these methods I use.

Our text happens to be one of those scriptures that I put myself into so that I can feel what these men felt. As I did this, I seemed to actually experience the paralyzing fear they must have felt at that time.

Everyone has had to face some type of fear in life. These fears may have been as simple as facing the bully on the playground, or being intimidated by someone or something.

I have personally had to face many fears over the years as a result of my earlier life of timidity and insecurity. However, I learned that when I could actually face a fear I could usually get the victory over it. The fears that I felt I could not face (for whatever reason) seemed to grow bigger and kept me running away faster from them.

In many cases, facing fear is almost like facing death. I have come to the conclusion that in order for one to get the victory over certain fears one has to put everything on the line and say, “If I die, I die, but I will not be driven any further by this fear.” In most cases we find our fears to be much smaller enemies than we first thought.

When I was a boy growing up in East Texas it seemed that every creek and river had a swimming hole. During the summer these swimming holes were constantly filled with little naked boys running, jumping and swinging off of ropes and trees into the water.

There was one particular swimming hole that seemed to attract me more than all the rest. This swimming hole had a train track running over it and the trestle provided a great place for the brave kids to dive from. However, my fear would always keep me from going up on the trestle and diving into the water, because it looked too high.

I remember always leaving the swimming hole feeling defeated because I did not dive from the trestle. One day while swimming I stood in the water looking up at that trestle for a long time and finally said to myself, “I may die, but I cannot live this way…so I am going to dive off the trestle.” With my faith at its highest I walked out of the water and crawled up the bank to the train track determined to face my fear. I stood there on the trestle as naked as a jaybird staring at the water trying to build up my confidence and...finally I jumped.

I left the swimming hole with the satisfaction of knowing that even though I may not have victory over everything in life…I did defeat the spirit of fear at the swimming hole that day.

Father,

Help us to face the paralyzing fears of life with the determination that we refuse to be controlled by fear any longer. It is You and You alone Lord who gives us the spiritual determination to face such fears and be victorious over them. Father, I have learned that the bigger blessings of life are just beyond the fear we need to defeat.

Amen