Jerusha: I’m delighted to introduce you to Hope Welborn, an award-winning writer in my own genre of romantic suspense! Please join me in giving her a big Fear Warrior community welcome!
By Hope Welborn
Fear is a strong motivator for human behavior. For most people, at the core of our actions and decisions is a thread of fear. When fear becomes the strongest motivator in our lives, it gains unhealthy control over us.
I am a naturally fearful person. A worrier. I prefer things that I know will have a positive outcome. Sure things. Things I can control.
Risk-taking is not my modus operandi.
By not venturing out into the deep waters of the unknown, but rather, staying safely on the shore, one can avoid certain troublesome experiences – bad decisions, wrong turns – and the consequences that follow. I tend to live my life that way.
But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that the view from the shore is also a limited one. You can only learn so much by watching, by distant observation. Some things you can’t learn until you experience them for yourself. You can’t behold the beauties and wonders of the deep if you never let yourself take the plunge.
The other day as I was leaving the grocery story, I saw a young mother returning her cart after she had emptied it of her purchases. Her toddler daughter rode in the seat area. When they reached the corral, the mother held out her hands. The daughter stood up in the cart and jumped into her mother’s arms. The look on the child’s face was one of happiness. Joy. Expectation.
And trust. That was what struck me most.
When the mother’s arms stretched out, the child didn’t hesitate. She quickly understood what her mother was prompting her to do. And she obeyed the non-verbal command. She stood and jumped. No hesitation. No fear.
I tried to put myself in the little girl’s place. Standing up in a cart can be unsafe. And jumping out is also risky. It’s a long way down if she were to fall. If her mother failed to catch her.
What would prompt the girl to perform this dangerous act?
Trust.
She had obviously done this before. And her mother had probably taught her how to do it. Step by step. A little at a time. Probably picking her up out of the cart at first. Then, remaining close by and helping her to stand and then to jump into her arms.
And she’s always caught her. Always.
Because if she’d ever failed once, ever missed and let the child fall, then her daughter wouldn’t be so quick to jump the next time.
This little girl knew – from experience – that her mother’s arms were strong enough to catch her and hold her safe.
Trust is earned. It is built up over time. It is the result of taking a risk and receiving a positive outcome.
Scary experiences become a bit easier when we trust the one we are with.
I’ve seen this played out between my brother and my nephew. My brother is a cowboy. He’s been riding horses since he could say the word “horse.” He loves it.
And he is passing that love along to his son. Before my nephew was even big enough to sit up in the saddle, my brother and sister-in-law would put him on the horse, holding him upright as my brother would lead the little pony around in the yard.
He’s bigger now, able to sit by himself and hold on as his dad leads the pony. He enjoys riding, but he’s always on guard, being careful to hold on and not fall off.
Sometimes he asks to “ride the big horse with Daddy.” My brother will put his son in front of him in the saddle, encircling his child with his arms, as my brother holds the reins and guides the horse.
My nephew loves it. When he’s nestled into his father’s arms, he relaxes. His face lights up with joy, expectation. And trust.
He knows his daddy will not let him fall. He is safe in the circle of his arms. He can relax and enjoy the ride.
I try to remember this when I am faced with things that cause me to fear. When I am tempted to stay safely on the shore and not venture out into the deep unknown.
When we let fear have control, we miss the blessings that God has for us.
One of the first verses I put to memory was Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
The Bible has a lot to say about fear, or rather, not fearing. Here’s another favorite, Isaiah 41:13, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”
Fear pales in the presence of my Father.
Scary experiences are easier when I remember the One in whom I have placed my trust. The One who holds me in His capable arms, in the very palm of His hand. The One who will never let me fall.
When I stop to remember, to acknowledge and truly believe this truth, it is then that I can relax and enjoy the ride.
Does fear keep you stuck on shore in your life? Are you afraid to take the plunge into something God has called you to? Please join the conversation!
Hope Welborn writes spine-tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. She grew up on a farm in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. She adores anything superhero related, a page-turning read that keeps her up too late, and a warm cup of chai tea.
Her first manuscript was a 2016 Genesis Finalist and recently won First Place for Romantic Suspense in the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Foundation Awards. She is currently pursuing publication while working on her second manuscript.
You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and on her blog.
Comments 20
Thanks for the solid, scriptural reminder of how we need to trust our God who is always with us, helping, holding, and guiding.
Thanks for stopping by, MJ! I need those reminders frequently in my life. I go back to those Scriptures time and time again. Blessings to you! “Be strong and courageous!” -Hope
It’s great to see you here, Hope! I can relate-I’m a natural worrier, too, and often choose the option with the sure outcome, but, you’re right that we are always safe with our Father. I’m dealing with some fear issues myself a little more blatantly lately as I battle with fear while walking my dogs-one of them has been bitten twice in the last ten months and it’s scary, despite doing what I reasonably can to prevent another attack. But we never walk alone. Verses about God’s protection and how safe we are with him have never taken on quite this meaning for me before. As you wrote, scary situations are less so when I remeber that my safety isnt as much about the measures I’ve taken as the it is about One who I trust. This weekend I watched my niece go tubing with one of my brothers and my husband. She was afraid to go alone, but she’d go with them in another picture of a child trusting. Thanks for pointing out the similarities of how we can trust God that way, too.
Thank you, Emily! I’ve followed your blog and know the issues you’ve been dealing with. I’m so proud of you for continuing on in the face of such fear. I know that would be hard for me to do as well. Thanks for sharing, and I’m praying for you and your situation. Blessings!
I’m a naturally fearful person, too, and I’ve had to learn to trust in God. Honestly, it helped when I got married. My husband is the first person I was able to really trust, and he restored my faith in not only people, but my heavenly father. Great post, Hope!
Kim, thanks for sharing. That’s a wonderful story. I’m so glad God used your husband to restore your trust. Isn’t He wonderful? I love how He puts the puzzle pieces of our lives together to make something beautiful!
Oh how I needed your reminder today, Hope. Perfect timing! Blessings to you always!
Thanks for stopping by, Janetta! I’m so glad this helped you today. Yes, God’s timing is always perfect. I’m glad He lets us come along for the surprises! Blessings to you, too, dear!
Worry used to really hold me back. I always said it was my worst sin, but prayer has lessened it for me. Never fear, doubt has crept up on me now. I got a bracelet before my first writing conference. It is inscribed with these words. “My faith is bigger than my fear.” Also, beside my bed, I have a coaster that says, “everything you’ve ever wanted lies on the other side of fear.”
Leslie, welcome “sister worrier!” I know what you mean about it holding you back. It has me, too, but God is working on me! And I love both of those sayings! So very cool. I have little things like that to remind me of His truths, too. So helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Hope! Love the pictures of child-like trust you sketched in words for us. Next time I’m struggling with fear, instead of standing on the shore, I’m going to pull up these pictures – the child jumping from the grocery cart into her mother’s arms and the little boy sitting in front of his Daddy on that big horse. You are right about fear and how it can incapacitate us – freeze up our God given gifts so we become like the one talent servant who buried his gift for fear of losing it. Thanks so much for your reminders that we do not take leaps of faith alone – God is there to catch us.
Beautiful words, Sally. Thanks for sharing! I hadn’t thought of the one talent servant, but you are so right. It was his fear that motivated his behavior, and what a blessing he missed out on! I’m glad this helped you. Blessings on your journey!
Excellent post, Hope! I love the analogies of trust growing between parents and children and the trust we need to develop with our Heavenly Father.
Thank you, Cindy! I’m glad you stopped by and enjoyed the post. God bless you!
Hope,
Thank you for honestly addressing this topic. Your examples and the verses you chose clearly illustrate the grip of fear and the Rescuer from it. I delay beginning new writing pieces because I fear lack of knowledge or experience. I need to jump into the arms of Abba Father and start typing!
Jeannie, oh yes! Fear can be so paralyzing, especially in the creative arts. Putting your heart and soul on the line in your work is terrifying. I pray for you to release your work into His hands and see the fruits of what He will do with it. Keep writing, dear!
Great thought. I tend to be a fearful worrier also. But I’m learning to do life afraid. ☺ I just keep stepping out of the boat…
I love that, Jennifer. “Do life afraid.” Because the fear may never fully go away, but it doesn’t have to keep us “in the boat.” We can still do what He’s called us to do even in the face of our fear. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hope, my friend, you have inspired me this morning to walk more confidently and trust more completely.
Evelyn, so glad to hear that! I appreciate you stopping by, and I pray that we call all walk more confidently and trust more completely! God bless you, friend!