Confronting Fears

When I was signing the kids up for some spring recreation classes, I gave Hannah several options to choose from. I was surprised when she chose a rock wall climbing class! This surprised me for several reasons, one of the biggest being Hannah's fear of heights. I explained that I would happily enroll her, but she needed to know that she would be required to attend all six classes and at least try to climb during each one. That might sound a little harsh, but we are striving to teach our children the value of following through with our decisions and commitments. She agreed, and I signed her up.

She has completed two classes, and I couldn't be more proud of her perseverance! She made it a third of the way up during the first class and a little further the second class. She is not letting herself get discouraged by comparing her progress with others (all of the other kids made it to the top during the first class). She is just pushing herself to make it a little higher each time. I am so proud of her because she is showing courage and perseverance! I am so afraid of failure that I don't even attempt to try things a lot of the time.

It's funny how the little expressions of the faith of others can bolster our own timid spirits! I have been sensing God's call to express faith by trusting Him in a certain area of my life. I would prefer to remain in my cozy little comfort zone and be happy only doing those things that I know I can be successful at. This, however, is not a life of faith. It takes no faith to live my life relying on my own skills. It takes great faith to move out of myself and my comfort zone, to rely on God's strength to showcase itself in my weaknesses.

I listened to a sermon last night about Thomas, whose faith needed bolstering. Thomas had every reason to be reluctant to believe that Jesus was alive. He had just seen the man who claimed to be the answer to all of his hopes and dreams, killed like a common criminal on a cross of shame. Having already lost everything, could he bear the pain if this news turned out not to be true? If this same man really had risen from the dead, what would be in store for his followers? Given the "proof" of what Thomas had seen, I think I would have had the same fears myself. So how did Jesus strengthen Thomas' faith? By showing him His wounds--wounds that PROVED the extent of His love, the pain that He would willingly endure to change Thomas' condition. In that moment Thomas believed.

When my kids are reluctant to obey, I ask them two questions: "Does Mama love you? Does Mama want what's best for you? Then trust my love and obey!"(not always that eloquently, but you get the picture). :) Aren't these the same questions God asks us, when we are reluctant to step out in faith and walk in obedience? "Do I love you? Am I for you or against you? Am I working for your good? Then look at my wounds and trust and obey!".

Watching Hannah face her fear of heights makes me want to step out in faith in my life too. If God is for me, who cares who is against me? I have all the proof I need of His love and the extent to which He will go to keep on saving me. I can trust that love and walk in obedience.

"Crown him the Lord of love;

behold his hands and side,

those wounds, yet visible above,

in beauty glorified."