Pole of Fear

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise--in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”  Psalm 56:3-4

Scott is a daredevil ... to say the least. I have never seen him back down from anything. From his cycle riding to his traveling the world to his business ventures, the term "risk-taker" aptly describes him. That's why I was so surprised when he wouldn't climb the pole to the zip-line platform. Granted, the zip-line platform was high. And granted, the pole to the platform demanded a few maneuvers, but I never expected him to say, "I'm not climbing that pole!" No matter how much I encouraged and cajoled, his feet stayed planted on the ground. We had some serious (and not so serious) discussions about Scott's refusal to climb. But here's one thing that we concluded: everybody has a "pole of fear." You may be described as a risk taker, but there is something you won't or can't do because of your fear. What is your "pole of fear"? Does it have to do with your family? Is it found in relationships? Do you fear getting close to others? Maybe your "pole of fear" makes itself known in your job. Maybe your self-doubt is a subconscious paralyzer. Maybe you fear failure. You can't stand the thought of letting someone down or letting him or her see your vulnerability. Or maybe your "pole of fear" is getting close to God and letting others help you in the process. Remember, everyone has a "pole of fear." The words "fear" and "afraid" are found 483 times in the Bible! But the remedy to fear is found in today's passage. The psalmist says, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you ... in God I trust and am not afraid." Turn your fear over to God. He is more than capable to turn your "pole of fear" into a pathway of faith.

“Father, we are all afraid of something. As we stand before our "poles of fear" today, help us to trust in You. Thank You for giving us everything we need to climb. In Jesus' name. Amen.”

Ron Moore