When I was growing up, one of my favorite of the garden creatures was the spider. You've heard my statement correctly; my favorite of all the fauna that inhabited my backyard was the inclusive, intrepid, arachnid with eight legs, woolly abdomen, and countless beady eyes. For most of us, spiders may be one of the last of the arachnids we wish to see( Then again, scorpions aren't exactly that pleasant either). Yes. many of them our lethal, which is absolutely something to consider, but others are highly valued for their usefulness in disposing of insects that are otherwise harmful. Regardless, humanity tends to have a fear of what is beyond comprehension or reflective of our mortality. Some of these fears are less than fatal such as stage fright, math assignments, horror films (I'm presently a little freaked out watching Insidious right now) or asking a crush to a dance. Others are far more debilitating such as fear of losing a loved one, cancer, or losing a career.
The essence of fear is never a simple monster to confront. Fortunately, we have a God who is willing to confront our giants when we feel overwhelmed in facing the battle. II Timothy 1:7 says
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Jeremiah 29:11, among others, is just one of many passages that remind of us our source of Hope above all:
'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the
LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future.'
My question to you, my avid reader, is simple: What scares you the most? Is it crucial, horrific, or harmless in nature. If this fear is keeping you in shackles, will you confront our savior, Jesus Christ, in facing such odds?
Shelob's Lair by John Howe.
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