We fear so much.  The phobia list is endless.

Here’s the top 5:

  1. Arachnophobia – The fear of spiders
  2. Ophidiophobia – The fear of snakes
  3. Acrophobia – The fear of heights
  4. Agoraphobia – The fear of open or crowded spaces
  5. Cynophobia – The fear of dogs

Fear will always be there.  God designed our bodies with a ‘fight or flight’ mechanism so that we can face the fear or flee from it.  When that system is working well, we’ll effectively manage the response to fear.  There are fears we should face and fight.  There are fears that we should flee from.

However the system can go awry (because God also gave us the ability to choose) and we can become fearful of more and more.   Rather than face the fear, we more often than not, flee from the fear or avoid it all together.  And each time our world gets just a bit smaller, just a bit more confined, just a bit more closed in.

Yet again, the bible comes to the rescue giving us instruction on this topic.

Matthew, Chapter 14, versus 26 thru 29 directly addresses this.   Click here and I’ll read it to you..  Peter and the disciples are in a boat quite a distance from the shore line and they are afraid because they see Jesus walking on the water toward them.  The disciples fear it is a ghost.   Jesus says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Then Peter says,  “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”   Jesus says, “Come.”  So Peter gets out of the boat and walks ON WATER to Jesus.

You think Peter’s fight or flight response was kicking in?  You think Peter’s heart was racing? You think Peter was more afraid than he ever had been in his life?  Yes, yes and yes.

Remember that next time you are afraid.  There are definitely fears we should flee from.  That’s the appropriate response.  More often, however, there are MANY fears we should face.  Even if you just stand your ground, shaking and quaking and sweating, you’ll prove to yourself and to God, that you can do it.  Because after all, that is what God asks us to do.  The bible tells us so.