When Fear Keeps You From Living
Last summer, my husband begged me to go to Montana. I told him I would go as long as we could have a professional tour guide and go “GLAMPING.”
Instead, as life would have it, we ended up in Southern California (with a free place to stay; sorry Montana, maybe next time).
These are my kind of people.
Beach. All Day.
I was thoroughly enjoying the beach with the rest of my people when my husband, Jamus, a.k.a. Indiana Jones, decided he wanted to go on a hike. (He just would not let it go.) Some dreams need to die.
I said, “Okay honey, see ya when you get back!”
He gave me the puppy-dog face—the one layered with guilt and much condemnation. Without saying a single word, his expression read, “You’re not coming?”
Let the adventure begin.
At the bottom of the trail (yes, we would be hiking up a mountain), the Park Service Kiosk had provided some very alarming information: “Beware of the local wildlife: Bears, Mountain Lions, and Rattlesnakes”
What the crap, California!
I thought that surely after reading the alarming warning Jamus would chose to let his dream die. Nope. Instead, I would risk my life for love.
I would like to tell you that Jamus had a pleasant traveling companion who traversed the dusty and jagged terrain, but that would be a lie. What I can tell you is that I held the back of his shirt as he lead/dragged me through the wilderness, and I screamed anytime I heard the slightest buzz, crack, twig breaking, rock dropping, or fly buzzing by. I kept saying, “Jamus, did you hear that? What was that?”
I cannot remember the last time I was so scared. Stop laughing at me… So rude!
I may have felt better (probably not) if we would have been packing a stun gun or at least a pocketknife. I truly believed our choice to take this trail was not a wise decision. “Annie Edwards, dead at age 31, after refusing to go into fetal position during the bear attack. Instead, the mother of three tried to outrun a grizzly.”
I prayed the entire time.
The top of the mountain greeted me with open arms. I breathed in God’s magnificence when I saw… The view! I had never seen anything like it. I climbed to the top of the dangerous, cactus-laden, deadly terrain and—I was alive! And, I was on top of the world, overlooking the ocean!
Of course, there were pictures taken, markers of God’s grace and faithfulness along our journey both on this trail as well as our trail in life. There was a bench at the top of this mountain that was inscribed with, “She rode the wave of life.” (Yes. This.)
As we journeyed back down to the beach, we passed some locals who informed us that it was rattlesnake season. However, I wasn’t as scared on the journey back down because something new had clicked in my soul. Somehow, the journey up the mountain proved something about God and myself. I saw that the view was worth the journey. I no longer feared the mountain; instead I only feared missing the view.
I saw that the view was worth the journey.
I began to wonder what else fear has kept me from? I know I am not alone in this… Has fear kept you from new friends or new places? Starting a new business? Getting healthy? Finding a new job? Moving to a new town? Trying to homeschool? Learning a new hobby?
There is something that the God who created that magnificent California view tells us… “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)
So, the next adventure that awaits, whether in life or on vacation, remember the Source who removes all fear. Put the trembling, knee-knocking terror behind you, and you’ll be amazed at the discoveries ahead!
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#gritandgracelife
