What Scares You?

Have you ever been genuinely afraid?  Has something ever scared you to the point where you literally could not move?  Perhaps it was something that shook you to your very core, a moment in time that you will never be able to forget no matter how hard you try.  Something so terrifying that it is permanently engraved in your memory.  Fear can grip someone so tightly that it disables their ability to function.  What is it that stops you in your tracks?  What brings fear to your innermost being?  What scares you?

 

Maybe it was a scary moment as a child when a snake slithered nearby or a furry spider jumped on your arm.  Or it might have been sometime today when someone came up behind you and yelled, “Boo!”  Quite possibly, it was the moment you discovered you were terribly afraid of heights or thunderstorms.  Perhaps it could have been the moment you sent your son or daughter off to war, wondering if you would have another opportunity to hold them in an embrace. Or it may have been the moment you sat anxiously in the waiting room, hoping and praying that your mom, dad, child, or other loved one would survive.  Granted, there are countless things that frighten all of us. 

Right now, millions of people are without power along the East Coast of the United States.  Many lives have been lost.  Homes and businesses have been destroyed.  A staggering number of people have been affected by Hurricane Sandy and the super storm in one way or another.  And I know that many of these people are scared.  They may be evacuees who are afraid of what they will find when they are finally able to return home.  Or they may be trapped, unable to leave their place of residence due to the treacherous floodwaters, scared that they may not make it out alive.  I’m sure the emergency workers on the scene are frightened as well, wondering if they will be able to bring everyone to safety.  Needless to say, it is certain that a storm of this magnitude embodies a great deal of fear.  Fear of devastation, fear of dying, fear of the unknown.

In life, we will encounter many scary situations.  Some of the things we encounter will be somewhat insignificant, like our first job interview or the first time we drive through a violent storm.  Others will seem monumental, like the moment we sit next to a loved one who is fighting for their life.  In all of these situations, one thing remains true.  God will always be with us, helping us and comforting us when we are afraid.  Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Jesus Christ knows where you are at this very moment.  He knows if you are positioned somewhere along the East coast, frightened by the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the super storm, and dangerous blizzard conditions.  He knows if you are in a hospital somewhere, either fighting for your own life or waiting alongside someone else who is fighting for their own.  And He knows if you are afraid that you will not make the right decision concerning a big move or a new job opportunity.  Jesus Christ knows what frightens you.  He knows your innermost thoughts.  Ask Him to calm your fears.  Call on His name.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Don’t focus on what scares you.  Focus on Jesus.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

The Ultimate Father

What does it mean to be a father?  Is it about a person who provides a shelter, food, and clothes for their family?  Does it refer to the way they protect their children from harm, even to the point of putting their own lives on the line?  Or can being a father simply be described as someone who loves their sons and daughters unconditionally forever?  No matter how you define what it means to be a father, one thing is absolutely for certain.  Fathers are always ready to hand out advice, allowances, and accolades, making them irreplaceable heroes in the eyes of their children.

This Father’s Day, many children, young and old alike, will honor their fathers through cards, gifts, and the greatest treasure of all, love.  And yes, dad will likely receive tie #87 to add to his collection.  But it isn’t about the sentimental greeting card bearing the perfect verse or the funny card with the verse that says “How much do I love you?” leading to the giant hands that pop out and say, “This much!”   Father’s Day is about honoring the man who cared for you as a child and through your teen years.  He loved you even when you spit up on his new suit on the way to church, he loved you when you accidentally backed his car into the garage door, and he loves you even now, no matter how old you are, with your quirks and all.

I am blessed to have a dad who loves me unconditionally.  He is always there for me when I need him and he is the rock my foundation is built upon.  My mama and daddy taught me the most important lesson of all: a life with God at the center is the life worth living.  No matter what I am going through, my dad always has a word of wisdom or encouragement, or maybe just a hug to let me know he cares and he understands.  I am grateful to have such a loving father and I know I am blessed beyond measure to enjoy such a special father-daughter relationship.  It is something I cherish and will never take for granted.

Perhaps you have never had a relationship like that with your father.  Or maybe your father has gone on to be with the Lord and you’re left on this earth feeling alone.  While it is understandable that you miss him and that you wish things were different, I want you to know that you are never alone.  Jesus Christ, your Heavenly Father, is always with you.  Joshua 1:5 (NIV) says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  This promise means that our Heavenly Father, just like your biological father, will always love you, quirks and all.  It doesn’t matter if you can see Him or not.

One Sunday morning at church, I learned about a special tradition between a Cherokee father and son.  According to the Cherokee Indian tradition, a young boy must exhibit bravery in order to become a man.  To do this, his father takes him deep into the forest.  Once they are in the appropriate location, the father places a blindfold over his son’s eyes and instructs him to sit on a stump.  The son is not allowed to leave the stump or remove the blindfold until after sunrise the next morning.  During the night, he hears the sounds of wild animals and other frightening things around him, but still, he cannot leave the stump or take off the blindfold if he wants to successfully complete this rite of passage.

When morning breaks, I am sure he is relieved to feel the sun on his face and know that he can finally remove the blindfold after enduring a long, fearful night.  When he looks up, he is stunned.  For it is only then that he realizes that his father had been sitting on a stump beside him all night long, watching over him and protecting him from harm.  You see, the father wanted to know if his son was brave, yet he was not willing to put his son in harm’s way to do so.  Instead, he ensured that his son was safe and constantly under his watch all through the night.

Similarly, our Heavenly Father watches over us, day and night.  When we feel alone, He is there.  When we are afraid, He sends His Comforter.  When we just need to know that everything will be okay, He will provide the calm assurance we so desperately need.  He has already carried our load, mended our broken hearts, and restored our lives.  All we have to do is call on the name of Jesus.  Just like the young Cherokee boy who could not see his father sitting beside him all through the night, we need to have faith that everything will be alright.  We do not have to see Jesus Christ to know that He is with us.  We simply need to trust that He will watch over us in the darkest nights and protect us from all harm.  Our Heavenly Father knows our needs before we ask.  He loves us with a fierce, unconditional love.  Best of all, He is always sitting on the stump right beside us.

In Christ's Love,
Jennifer