Fear Not or Fear Knots

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)

The world is full of trick doors, booby traps and mine fields. And yet, no cage is more inconspicuous, finely-hidden and camouflaged than our fear of others. Most of us fear something. Some are afraid of heights or spiders or elevators. When I was a boy, an accidental collision with a hornet’s nest resulted in countless stings. To this day, even a fly buzzing by my ear causes me to do strange dances.

Nevertheless, I confess that I’d rather travel through a hall of mad hornets and poisonous vipers than to face my fear of certain individuals who have caused me pain. I bet you have a few names on that list yourself. We all do. Some people, including individuals in our own family, have a way of tying us in knots, consuming our minds and controlling even our behavior.

That’s why I love this verse. If you focus on your fear of another person you’ll find yourself trapped, torn and even tortured. But if you let go and trust in God, you’ll be “kept safe.” God will protect your heart. God will let your mind sleep at night. God will grant you peace in your soul. God will open avenues for forgiveness.

You can “fear not” or get a “fear knot.” One will save you. The other snare you. One will release you to soar. The other bind you as a slave. It's your decision.


NOTABLE QUOTABLES ON FEAR:

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows. - Japanese Proverb.
Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety. - Plato.

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. - Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Fear makes strangers of people who should be friends. - Shirley MacLaine.

To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. - Katherine Paterson

If a man harbors any sort of fear, it percolates through all his thinking, damages his personality, makes him landlord to a ghost. - Lloyd Cassel Douglas

I would rather be a coward than brave because people hurt you when you are brave. - Edward Morgan Forster.

Father, we know that Your Perfect Love casts out all fear. We stand on the Truth that if we simply trust You our fears will find flight. Thank you, Jesus, for revealing to us how to live without fear of those who seek to hurt or destroy us. Spirit, we simply ask this day for your Courage to overcome our fear. Amen.