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“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

In looking back on my life, extreme fear was a natural emotion from childhood to well into adulthood. Needless to say, it was not a feeling I neither liked then nor now. Though my fears now are at a minimum and I can honestly say I think I am as any average individual when it comes to having feelings of fear. Fear is some cases are a good thing such as the feeling that would cause us to protect ourselves. Let me give you an example, the fear of walking on the edge of a cliff; it is only natural we have an instinct of fear to back off. A fear to protect ourselves in a healthy way I personally feel is a good thing, but having fear as I used to have that literally consumed me to where it robbed me of enjoying many things is far from healthy.

In the recent months, I have had the privilege of having my niece live in our home. Our home is now her home. As she was on Spring Break this past week, she was able to visit our hometown and for Easter, my husband and I returned to spend time with our family and to bring her back home. There have been many times since living with us; I recall her struggle of fear in getting up in front of the class to do projects. I recall many times encouraging her that I had no doubt she could do it. Today, these projects come much easier for her.

While spending time with my family, my brother brought out these large bubbles that allow you to get inside and run toward an opponent only to bounce off of each other. In order to better explain, I have posted a picture I found of the bubbles on the internet. It was all fun and games to everyone however; as I was sitting there laughing at the crazy antics of everyone involved in ‘the bubble’. I realized my 8 year-old grand-daughter was very anxious. Her momma was trying to talk her into playing the game. It is unfortunate my grand-daughter experiences anxiety as like her grandmother used to have. I sat there watching her and knew all too well the feeling this precious baby was experiencing and this truly broke my heart.

I had already been in ‘the bubble’ and knew she would have a great time, however; she was letting her fears overcome her as I used to do. As I went to speak with her, I heard my niece say something that I had to laugh to myself. She made the statement something like this, ‘if my Aunt knows you are afraid of anything, she will make you face it head-on, that is for sure’. After talking to my grand-daughter, she got in that bubble crying, it hurt me to know she was crying but I knew once she faced her fear she would be better for it. I stood behind her encouraging her on with the attack against her opponent in the other bubble which was her momma. She soon realized the ‘bubble’ was harmless and a fun game. She eventually took down her opponent; and needless to say, she did not want to get out. She was laughing and realized by facing her fear, she could have fun and her fear was not as bad as she thought.

We can choose to let our fear rob us of the Joy in our lives by allowing the fear take over or we can face them knowing we have the best warrior behind us encouraging us alone. Jesus faced great fears and he is there behind us in all we have to face. He hurts when we hurt but he knows when we face the fears in our lives, we will become stronger for it and just maybe we might even realize the fears we once allowed to control us will bring us great joy.