Scared to Death!

Don't Mess With Me

10" x 8"

Watercolor

This Sunday marks the 21st birthday of my youngest son, Jacob Wesley Patterson.  At that point all four of my children are legitimate adults in all ways legal.  That threshold will be crossed.  I chose to do this painting for Jacob in honor of his special day.  Happy Birthday, Jacob!  This was what he was like as a young little squirt.  Now he is much taller than me.

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During breakfast yesterday I was reading about the Masked Shrew. No, it's not a major action hero character from a Marvel production. This little animal inhabits Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States.  It is quite small....averaging just under 4 inches with it's tail being almost half of that, and topping the scales at a humongous 18/100ths of an OUNCE.  This little creature looks mouse-like, but sports a long snout profusely decked with whiskers.

What caught my attention about this little shrew was that it has a fear ISSUE!!  It can literally be scared to death!  My National Audubon Pocket Guide to Mammals declares that "it lives its life at a very fast pace, and when startled, its heart rate may rise to more than 1,000 beats a minute."  Wow!!!  That's burning some calories right there! The Audubon Guide also stated that a single clap of thunder can cause the shrew to panic and die....scared to death. Amazing!

Fear not only scares Masked Shrews out of their skin, but it greatly affects us human mammals, as well.  We know too well the fight or flight instinct wired into our systems.  We have all experienced events like the land of sweaty palms before giving a speech or the gnawing unrest while waiting for medical test results.

Fear is a formidable foe.  Let's take a closer look at what it does in our lives.  First, fear pretends.  It is a phantom, not a real fact.  So therefore it is false.  It sets up scenarios in our minds that are not actual but seeks to convince us that this bad outcome is going to happen.

Fear pursues.  It can be relentless in its onslaught of our peace.  It comes after us, chasing us down the alleys of our minds, showing up and taunting us every time we seek to focus on realities.  

Fear paralyzes.  It can make you seize up, unable to feel, to move.  It makes you feel immobilized, unable to take steps to deal with a situation or accomplish a goal.  

Fear pauses.  Not only does fear attempt to keep you motionless, but it also brings to a standstill all the momentum and good action necessary for overcoming obstacles.  It puts a hold on creative projects and keeps risk-taking at bay.  It puts a damper on joy and freedom to investigate possibilities.

Fear projects.  On the wide-screen of your mind, fear heightens and escalates out of proportion possible outcomes.  Uncertainties can loom over us like a hideous monster with arms reaching out to take us down and devour us.

Fear plunders.  Like a thief, it robs of us of our peace and joy.  It steals precious time to think great thoughts and holds us hostage, sucking out energy and resolve.  It takes from us, leaving us depleted and empty-handed.  It steals what might have been undertaken for good and leaves a wasteland instead.

Fear possesses.  It seeks to dominate our will and our thoughts.  It wants to chain us by obsession with what is feared.  Fear wants to be our total focus.  It desires control.

How do we conquer fear and go on towards thriving in our lives?  May I suggest an answer of substance that you can rest your weight on?  I believe that faith is much stronger than fear.  Let's see what that looks like played out against fear.

Faith guards.  Life is uncertain, but we don't have to succumb to it.  Faith surrounds our hearts and our minds, rejecting what isn't true, turning falsehood away at the door.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:10 that we are not to worry about anything, but to pray instead.  And that God's peace as a result would mount a guard like the cavalry soldiers on horses over our hearts and minds.  

Faith guides.  Faith looks at what is unseen and responds based on what is eternally true. We can proceed to navigate the uncertainties in our lives because we can follow the Good Shepherd Jesus and like David wrote in the famous Psalm 23...we can trust that He knows where the green pastures, quiet waters, and paths of rightness are.  And He promises to be with us in the dark shadow valleys of our lives.  

Faith goads.  It stimulates us to action, encouraging us be in forward motion with our lives. We are to carry on with what is good and not get discouraged.

Faith gives.  We can trust that the necessary resources will be there for what faith is calling us to do.  We gain an inner strength to push ahead and do the next right thing.

Faith graces.  Our lives will demonstrate an elegance or beauty in the actions we take when we respond to what faith is calling us to do.  Life is lived on a higher plane of seeking not only our own interests, but what will benefit others and enhance all of life.  

Faith grows.  Instead of the stagnation that worry brings, we experience growth through overcoming fear, enlarging our perspectives, and expanding in response to what faith calls us to do.  

Faith glorifies.  Instead of looking inward to our own limited resources in dealing with fear, faith enables us to thrive and walk in strength and peace. Because we know that the One in whom we trust is true and will never abandon us.  He is God with us and for us.  He will fight our battles for us.  And our quiet confident belief that this is so highlights the awesome God that is all this and more for us.  

Here's a quick look at what's on my easel this week...it's a work in pastel:  

Be brave and courageous!