By: Lyndsay Crews
Can you think a single word in your mind and go from calm to chaos? Here’s one of mine…
Snake!! Okay, don’t panic Lyndsay. [Short, labored breathing] A 6 foot long snake was swimming on top of the water a few feet away from my rowing shell. My coach, who was next to me, attempted to talk me off the ledge of hysteria. (Did I mention I’m terrified of snakes?) 15 minutes earlier I managed to fall into the lake. I knew how to climb back into my shell, but it took way too long. Then it hit me: One wrong move and I will be stuck in this water…with snakes. Worst. Fears. Confirmed. For the rest of the night (and the next two weeks), I constantly looked for snakes in the water. In doing so I lost focus of my actual goal of becoming a better rower.
Fears are real: fear of snakes, fear of heights, fear of failure, etc. Fears are meant to serve us as a protection mechanism, but instead we end up serving our fears. For example: I have a fear of rejection which manifests itself as a people pleaser. Sometimes I avoid hard conversations with people that I know God has nudged me towards because I’m scared they won’t like me afterwards. When fear dictates my actions, I’ve allowed fear to take the place in my life that only God should have.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
What fear is on your mind this morning? Is it serving you as protection or are you giving it control of your mind and actions? I know I need to let go of some of my fears. Let’s pray and confess our fears to God and ask Him to replace them with His power and love!