Snake Handling

As I was running today I was listening to this past weekend's message from my church (Elevation Church). The current sermon series is about facing the things that are in your life that stir up fear in you. As I was listening I was slapped in the face a few times (not literally, that would be quite embarrassing as I ran), so today's blog is inspired by this message.

I have anxiety - it's something I struggle with and I even take medication for it. The anxiety is born out of a gift that God put inside of me to be cautious, aware of potential danger, and to recognize situations that are potentially harmful, but the enemy likes to use it against me as a form of unhealthy anxiety. With anxiety comes a big batch of fear. Fear is not a bad thing, being afraid of the things that you fear is what harms you.

In the Bible it talks about fear about a million times and it talks about fearing the Lord but not being afraid. We should be fearful, but not afraid. We should recognize what the Lord is capable of and be fearful of that, but we should not be afraid of the Lord. It's a hard concept to grasp that we should love the one that we are most intimated by.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts (instructions) have good understanding." 

- Psl 111:10

My biggest fears are rooted in failure. I fear failure more than anything else. Failing at honoring God in my relationship with Phillip, failing at being excellent in my school work, failing at pleasing those around me, failing at doing what God has created me to do, etc. Fear gives a foothold to the enemy to destroy your life, because God is love and there is no fear in Love, so the more you let Love reign in your life the more your fears will be cast out. Godly fear is aligned with His will for your life, any other fear is not of God and thus allows doubt to demolish your faith.

"Cast your cares (fears) on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." 

- Psl. 55:22 

Pastor Steven gave the illustration of snakes and other animals at the zoo. Isn't it interesting that we go to the zoo and look at scary creatures like snakes, bears, and lions? We go into the zoo as a form of entertainment and fun, not as a form of punishment. Why are we okay with this? Because we aren't afraid of the fearful things we see around us. I recently went to the Nashville zoo and saw a snake handling demonstration of a gigantic python - but I wasn't afraid because I knew that the person holding it knew what they were doing. If I were to see the same snake in my backyard, I would be so afraid I might faint, but when someone who knows what they are doing with the snake is holding him, I am not a bit afraid of going right up to the snake.

That snake represents our fears - we don't have to be afraid of our fears when God is holding them. We can understand what they can do, and fear that, but we can look right at them and not be afraid because we know that God's love is a shield about us, protecting us from our biggest fears. We are afraid of our fears because we believe the lie that God isn't big enough to handle our tough situations. If we would just let Him hold our fears, doubts, anxieties, boogie monsters, etc then we could live our lives being aware of our fears and potential dangers, but not being afraid because we've given them over to the ultimate snake handler. God is bigger than the boogie man, remember?

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

 - Psl. 34: 4-5

"Cast all your anxiety (fears) on Him, because He cares for you."
- 1 Peter 5:7