The Factor of Fear

In church last Sunday a baby was sitting nicely on her father’s lap looking around, smiling, being a wonderful baby.  Suddenly without a warning the little one lurched backward and as babies are not the most nimble (You try moving gracefully with baby fat!), she almost fell off her dad’s lap.  Her parents reacted quickly and stablized their precious gift – but I’m sure it gave both of them at least a little scare (no matter how many times it had happened before).

A few weeks ago 8 of us traveled to Missouri for Cave Camp and had a great time.  Late Sunday night (the first night) my fellow leader says to me, “What’s that in the hallway?”  After expecting it to be one of the campers up out of bed and not seeing anyone I looked closer.  Walking across the middle of the hallway was a HUGE Wolf Spider.  This spider was about 6 inches long from leg to farthest leg.  A spider as big as my hand.  We freaked – I mean that’s a big spider, and we all know creepy crawlies give most people a scare.

Life is full of things that can be scary, fear-filled, and full of anxiety.  This summer many of you are antipating new jobs, new schools, new homes and many other “new” things this fall.  Going into junior high or high school is a big deal and I know it scared me big time WAY BACK WHEN.  What are we to do with all this fear?

“God is our refuge and strength,a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
     though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea…”
Psalms 46:1-2 (NRSV)

Pray – Listen – Read God’s Word
Trust in God because like a small child unbalanced, we teeter and totter away from God and worry about our lives.  Seek God and trust Him with your worries and cares!  By the way, the spider didn’t hurt us – but it did scare the bajeebies out of us!