Labels#7. “Scared.”

The older one gets the less they are likely to care about admitting to their fears. By contrast, it takes a brave child to shrug off those dreaded words, “Are you scared?”

I asked a brother if he had been to Queenstown and seen the spectacular scenery from the gondola. He said, “I went on the gondola, but I saw nothing.” I wondered if there had been a strange happening that prevented everyone from seeing anything. But he continued, “I spent the whole ride on the floor. I was so petrified I couldn’t look out because of my fear of heights” (He has since overcome this fear).

Though not an uncommon phobia, for many being up high is not a problem. In fact, for some, such fear is impossible to understand, and they see it as irrational.

I am always careful when classifying fears in others as irrational—“Judge not, lest ye be judged!” is always a wise beginning point.

“One man’s fear is another man’s thrill,” is often found to be true. However, all that it takes is for a thrill to go wrong and you will undoubtedly end up with two fear-filled men.

Many of the struggles we have as Christians cause obvious feelings of fear and anxiety within us; we should expect this. And in expecting it, of course, we gain strength to face the inevitable assault upon our feelings and faith.

We must identify the struggles that are causing peace to flee from us. Are they reasons to fear for the soul, or reasons to fear for the things of this world?

Whatever they are, seek the peace of Christ—it is there for the asking:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

“Are you scared?” Tell it to Jesus…!

John Staiger