Trust

In ten days, I will be in a car, driving here.

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Which nudges me to remember this verse:

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

My sister in Christ and dear, intrepid friend, Anne Bundy, is going to bless me by taking me into the Denver mountains. Knowing that I'm a music lover, she wants me to hear the elk bugle in the morning. Anne knows my heart for the sounds of God's creation.

She also knows my fear of heights.

If you have an unreasonable fear--one you know is unfounded, but persists--perhaps you know what I face. I am not afraid of the dark, storms, or spiders. I've seen snakes in my yard and said, "Hey, look at this, kids! Check it out!" Not even Swine Flu makes me tremble.

But an airplane ride? A roller coaster? A drive on Trail Ridge Road?

Tremors. Shaky legs. Sweaty palms.

Before I knew the Lord, feelings ruled my experience. My feelings were all I had, and a tenuous understanding of the long odds of meeting my demise on roller coasters, airplanes, and mountain roads. Trembling, shaking, I used to tell myself over and over: "It's safe. More people die in cars than in airplanes--many more. And not many people die on mountain roads, either."

But now, now, I have Someone who doesn't just allay fears. He vanquishes them. He makes them turn to dust in the long view of His plan, His provision, and His salvation.

"Are you sure you can drive on this road?" Anne says. She knows I'll be nervous. So do I. I will undoubtedly chatter too much, my mouth will go dry, and I'll probably look over that edge a few times more than I ought.

I wish I could say that knowing God makes my fear disappear. Wouldn't that be nice, dear readers? Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could tell you that, because of God, I no longer feel an ounce of fear?

Perhaps that's others' experience. It is not mine. My body and mind, trained since childhood to react to heights with a rush of nasty adrenaline, will send me chattering and trembling.

But my assurance in the Lord and His plans reduces the fear to mere feeling, and nothing more--like the haze on these mountains. He knows the plans He has for me. If I am to perish this month, so it shall be, whether in my bed at night or on Trail Ridge Road. If I am to prosper, so I shall.

I know the path of my eternal soul. What fear have I?

Don't get me wrong: the allaying of fear does not give Christians license to be reckless or stupid. Conquering fear does not mean that I should step on one of these cliffs and hang by a branch: "Hey, check THIS out, Anne! Aren't I fearless now?"

But driving on a mountain road to get closer to God in His heaven--literally and figuratively--to spend time with a dear friend and hear God's creatures call--these are wonderful experiences, not to be missed. This is when the Christian overcomes fear to say, "Yes. I can do this."

Ten days from now, I will drive this road. And though palms be damp and voice be shaky, through it all I will sing:

Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great thou art! How great thou art!

QUESTION: Readers, do you have fears that you know are less-than-reasonable? Have you been able to overcome them? Have a blessed Sunday!

PS: Anne has a wonderful devotional blog titled Building His Body. If you haven't checked it out, please do so--you will be blessed by her words!