photo: © Alanpoulson | Dreamstime.com
Another 5 Minute Friday has come and I need to get moving!
AFRAID
GO
I remember being afraid of the dark when I was a child
I knew there was someone hiding outside the window or behind the door
waiting to grab me and take me away…or even kill me.
Fear ran my life as a child…well, much older really!
I was very fearful even tho’ few realized it.
The way I covered my fear was to be stoic.
I just plowed through the fear and kept on moving,
Shaking, with tense muscles all through the journey.
Because of the way I handled my fear,
I felt stressed most of the time!
I had headaches as the sign of my stress.
Did I know the Bible verses about not being afraid?
Of course!
But when I was a 10th grader riding a bus or train from North Carolina alone to Florida
There was a large disconnect!
I thought not being afraid meant looking like I wasn’t afraid
or not complaining about being afraid.
I would sit on the bus or train holding my purse tightly
Afraid that someone would pounce on me to steal my money.
As if there was a lot of it!
People were aways amazed at how well I did with all this traveling.
They had no idea how rapidly my mind would work trying to figure out STOP
If I was going to make my next connection on time
And how I would meet that challenge if I didn’t.
As you can imagine, there were no cell phones back in the early 60’s when I was doing this.
Nor was there free long distance. We had to figure out how to get out of our own scrapes.
Long distance calls were expensive!
The way I travel even now harkens back to those days.
My husband still doesn’t understand why I am stressed on travel days.
Or why I am not comfortable just being “on time”
That is the one time I want to be early to make my flight.
After 45 years with him, you would think I could relax…and I’m much better than I was!
But one thing I have learned over the years…
GOD has been just as faithful to protect us
as He protected this little, scared MK trekking around the US
With no idea what she was doing!
His command to Be strong and courageous
has nothing to do with stoicism.
It has to do with trusting GOD.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your GOD is with you wherever you go.”
The reason to be “brave” was because God was with me.
I had GOD’s presence with me.
I didn’t need to be frightened or afraid
He was with me and He still is.
No matter what lies ahead,
GOD IS WITH US!
