When I was a little girl, I loved going to school. I actually used to cry if I had to miss a day. While some kids avoided being called on in class, my hand was always up. I didn’t know it at the time, but apparently that made me a “teacher’s pet”. I guess I was supposed to feel ashamed by the phrase, but silly me, I thought it was a compliment. I remember one day I got a little too excited about homework, and one of my fellow classmates had enough! When the teacher left the room, the rather large girl stood up and announced that she would be beating me up after school. Looking back, I was in no shape for that kind of contact. Why not challenge me to a spelling bee or a math exercise? She actually wanted to roll around on the ground and get my dress dirty? Touch my face? That was not just unacceptable, it was horrifying. I had never fought anyone for any reason. In fact, I was sure that she would flat-out kill me. With that in mind, I devised a plan. Since we rode the bus together, I would exit the school building from a side door and RUN HOME! Yep, I ran! (Shocking, I know) I knew it would make me late getting home and my mama would be mad, but I didn’t care. I was scared! It wasn’t just because I wanted to avoid conflict. And I was definitely not trying to be the bigger person. I was in fear for my very life. Surely, she would pummel me, and I’d never see my family again. Well that’s what I thought. Needless to say, when Mama found out I ran, she did more to me than that girl. The next day at school was surprisingly easy. My bully decided, for whatever reason, that I wasn’t worth her time. I silently agreed.
No one runs faster than when in danger (with the exception of the girl in the horror movie). Fear is both natural and necessary. It makes us run from situations that have the potential to harm us or our way of life. We try to avoid abusive relationships, financial pitfalls, and ill- fitting garments. It was absolutely okay for me to escape my school yard demise, but when I grew up, my attitude toward fear had to grow up too. I couldn’t let fear bully me. I had to use my fear to my advantage. Fear became my fuel. How could I chase my dreams and run from them at the same time? I had to use my fear to push away my limits and overcome my doubts.
Sometimes we have goals in mind, but we let our fear stop us from even trying. It tells us that our dreams are too big. We aren’t smart enough. We don’t have enough money. We just aren’t good enough. People have said things to us that put fear in our hearts. You will never be anything. You won’t make it. No one will listen to you. Today I want to remind you that if there is no fear then you aren’t really dreaming. You’re not even hoping. You’re just wishing.
Don’t let your fear of the unknown or the what ifs send you into flight mode. If you embrace your fear, it can fuel your greatest endeavors. Do you want to change your life? Do you want to change the lives of others? Is there a business waiting for you? A promotion? A book project? A relationship? Don’t run from the things that God has promised you. He’s not asking you to do them in your own power. He is with you. Don’t let fear scare you. Let fear be your fuel.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Ephesians 6:10
Strengthen. Heal. Empower.
Image by Andrea Jaccarino
