Fear

We just returned home from an eight day Disney cruise.  We sailed away from Galveston on the Disney Magic last Friday.  The trip started off with uncertain weather conditions.  As Steve and I drove from Athens to Galveston, the weather got progressively worse.  As we came into Conroe, north of Houston, it began raining so hard that we could hardly see the car in front of us.  When we got into Houston, the rain was even harder and it was as dark as night.  Traffic was, well we were in Houston, so it was bad anyway!  Steve's knuckles were white on the steering wheel.  We crept along and then it started hailing.  Ok, I asked God at that point was this going to be the theme of our trip?  Steve has a new Jeep.  We stopped for a breather at a gas station and then inched our way into Galveston.

I was reminded of when Jesus' disciples had obeyed His command to get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake.  It was just after He had fed the 5,000.  After feeding the 5,000, He told His disciples to take the leftovers with them in the boat.  I don't think He was thinking they might get hungry on their way.  I think He was hoping they would remember the miracle He had just performed and "take it with them".  As they were being obedient and going to the other side of the lake a storm shook them to their core.  The storm was not a result of their disobedience, it was just a storm that Jesus allowed in their lives.

As Steve and I were going through this storm that Jesus had allowed in our lives, I remembered that Jesus, the Jesus of miracles, was with us.  Fear was not an option.  Faith and fear cannot live in the same heart!  This was another opportunity to trust the Lord.  I am thankful to report that we arrived safely on the ship.  We were wet, but alive and well.  The weather from that day forward was perfect.

The above picture also says a lot about fear.  These are my three beautiful granddaughters.  Emma is 8, Parker is 4 and Finlee is 2.  The older girls are thrilled to have their cartoon character come to life.  Finlee, not so much!  She is terrified.  The older girls are smiling and looking into the camera.  (There were several to look into).  But Finlee is looking straight into the eyes of her mother.  Even though she was fearful and crying, she held Minnie's hand and posed for pictures never taking her eyes of mommy.

Where do you look when you are terrified.  When storms come into your life where do you turn your gaze and your focus?  I first ask myself, have I brought this storm into my life through disobedience, or is it a storm that Jesus is allowing to refine me?  Do I need to confess and repent?  If yes, I confess and repent.  In either situation, I focus my spiritual eyes on Jesus, the King of all creation.  He has it all under control.  I can rest in that.  He may not remove my storm, but I know He walks with me through it.

Next time you are fearful, think about your focus.  You can focus on how terrible your circumstances are, or you can focus on how great our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is.  He died for you.  He loves you.  He will walk you through it.