Don’t Be a Scaredy-cat!

I have been hearing a lot about fear lately. I’m hearing it from friends, social media, even family. There is so much out there, so much going on, that is trying to take our peace. Recently, we went on vacation and I had my own battle with fear and I won!

Now I am a self proclaimed scaredy-cat. I don’t like bugs, snakes, the dark, swimming in water I can’t see the bottom of, well…a lot of stuff. But heights, that’s the top dog. Heights is what I would call the worst of the worst. It is so bad, that when it comes time to decorate my 12 ft Christmas tree, I have trouble climbing the ladder and have to get the kids to decorate the top!

Here is where I will say that I am thankful God gave me the husband that he did. I struggle with not enough faith and too much fear, while he has enough faith for everyone in the world and no fear. He has also given that to our children. Where I usually say “don’t do that, you’ll get hurt,” he says, “go ahead, it’s fine.” He has taught them to be careful, most of the time, while not being afraid.

The youngest wanted to jump from this log that was balancing on the huge rock he found in a creek we stopped at. You can’t tell but that’s about 20+ft over the water. Dad took a look and said it was ok and that was all it took. He not only jumped, he back flipped! I’m always thankful that they don’t take after me, after they are safely on the ground, of course!

Listening to the Father and doing what He says do is also key.

Here is where I won my own little battle though on vacation. I had planned for us to go zip lining. It was something that the kids had always wanted to do and we just had never done. So I found a great place, Climb Works, (I highly recommend that if you are near the Smoky Mountains and want to zip line, look them up!) and made our reservation. To say that my family had reservations of their own, is an understatement! I don’t think they thought that I would go through with it. This is the girl that is scared of the 6 ft step ladder! Mom is going to climb those tall platforms, cross those rope bridges and step off a platform and zip line hundreds of feet above the trees? Yeah, right?

Just the day before, I refused to go across the new Skybridge in Gatlinburg. Now, I’m not sure I would’ve crossed it in ideal circumstances but the night we went, the wind was blowing a hundred miles an hour and I totally caved to fear. I was even nauseous watching them and could barely watch!

But zip lining, my mind was made up. I wasn’t going to ruin anyone’s day and I wasn’t going to embarrass them with my fear. When we arrived at the first platform, I had a moment. We had to climb several flights of stairs to the top of the platform. It was high and shaky. I could feel the fear rising. I took slow breaths and focused on climbing those stairs. When I got to the top it eased some and we prepared to go.

Everyone in our group, including our kids went and then it was our turn. Husband was with me. We would go on lines that were side by side. The guide buckled me in and got us all ready to go and then it was up to us to make the move.

I stood there. It was all up to me. All I had to do was jump or step or just pick my feet up! For just a moment I thought about not doing it. Just for a moment, though. I asked the guide if I could relax into my harness and he said sure. I realized all my anxiety was in my body. I was clinging to the handles above my head like holding on was actually holding me. I sat down and felt the harness hold me. That was all it took and we were gone!

It was amazing! Flying through the air! Looking at the mountains and seeing the beauty all around. And then my feet were on the next platform and I was ready to go again. Every time was just as exciting!

Fear tried to grab me again at a different platform where we had to cross a rope bridge. It shook, probably because my family was messing with me, and I was shaken. But, I got across and went on the rest of the trip. Fear tried to come again at the very end. I was not aware that at the end of the zip line course, the only way down is to repel down! You actually had to step off the high platform as the rope let you down to the ground! That moment was almost worse than any of the zip lining! But I did it! I conquered it!

All of my life I have clung to this scripture and this is what helped me win the battle. God has not given me a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) That sound mind is self control. And the power is mine through Him. In the days leading up to our zip lining trip, I realized that the power was mine. I could have a fun time or I could decide to keep myself in fear. I chose to take control of the fear. I chose to not be a scaredy-cat.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength has taken on new perspective. I figured out that fear only has control if I let it. The control is mine. I can choose to be afraid of the news, sickness, or what’s going on around me. I can allow fear to control me or I can control it. The other thing I learned is when I give up control, I can rest in Him. Just like when I relaxed into my harness, I let go and allowed the harness to do it’s job. When I relinquish control and relax into God, I allow Him to not only be in control, I let God be God.

The next day we went to a new place for the kids to swim and people were jumping. I sat and I watched and I knew that I had to go one step further. I had to jump. Not only would I be conquering the fear of the heights, but the fear of the water. Before I could second-guess myself I had changed my clothes and found myself at the top of the rock. Yes, fear was there. But I didn’t let the fear take control, I controlled the fear! I jumped! I swam through the water to the bank.

I don’t have it all figured out, but I made a huge step. I am ready to work on that self control. I am ready to conquer my fears. I don’t want fear to keep me from not only enjoying life but doing what God asks me to do. I am ready to take the leap! Don’t be a scaredy-cat!