Read: Psalm 27 and Second Timothy 1:7
My husband and I purchased our first home about twenty-five years ago. It was a modest two-story structure situated on roughly one-quarter acre of land. The community was newly developed, the majority of which was still under construction when we moved in. At the time, the interest rates were sky high and our finances were not. Yet, we felt the Lord's leading to make the purchase.
The first night in our new home was fascinating. It seemed enormous after spending years in an apartment. We lay awake for hours rejoicing over what the Lord had done and attempting to adjust to the silence. No longer could we hear the footsteps of our upstairs neighbors or the sound of someone's stereo blaring through the walls next door.
Several days later I had come home from work, completed my exercise routine and headed to the shower. There was a two and a half hour gap between my arrival home in the evening and my husband's, which gave me ample time to exercise, get cleaned up, and prepare dinner. I didn't feel the need to take my clothing into the bathroom with me or close the door. Our marriage was still young and children had not yet come on the scene.
Shower completed, I proceeded to dry off, then wrapped the towel around myself and began to fix my hair. All of a sudden, I heard a creaking sound - slow but steady steps. Someone was coming up the stair! I slammed the bathroom door shut, locked it, and listened. My heart pounded rapidly in my chest as my mind raced. What could I do? I was in the bathroom, my clothes were not. How was I going to keep this person from banging in the flimsy door that separated us? If I somehow managed to get away, I would have to run out of the house with only a towel around my body. Oh my God, what do I do?
It seemed like I was in that bathroom forever as I waited behind the locked door for my pursuer to find where I was hiding. I remained perfectly still, trying to hear passed my pounding heart. It was silent. "What is he doing?" I asked myself. More silence. I waited, listened . . . nothing. I peered under the door to see if there was a shadow or if I could detect his movement. Still, nothing. Then I heard it, the creaking sound again. But this time, behind the temporary safety of the locked door, focusing in on it, I recognized the sound. The house was settling! I had heard the sound of the brand new boards, walls, and beams adjusting to their new configuration. I was relieved, yet felt foolish for allowing such horrendous fear to paralyze me. I had been in that bathroom in terror for over a half-hour!
Looking back twenty-five years later, I find this quite humorous. But there is nothing funny about fear. We are told numerous times in the Bible, "Do Not Fear." God is not telling us that there are no legitimate times where fear is an appropriate response. There is a natural fear He has given us that protects us from destroying ourselves. Rather, His admonition is that when situations to be afraid present themselves, we recognize His Presence with us and rely on and trust in Him. We are not to allow fear to get a grip, preventing us from doing the things God has called us to do. There will undoubtedly be many opportunities to be afraid during our earthly journey. But like David in Psalm 56:3, we are to proclaim, "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."
Prayer
Lord, I admit that I have not always responded to fear in a way that brought honor to Your Name. But it is my heart's desire to learn. Teach me to call upon You first and rest in Your Presence as well as Your ability and willingness to help. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
