For some reason, spiders scare us more than any other insect. Maybe its because some can be so big, they’re everywhere and they make these webs that we walk through or that get in our way. One of my friends on Facebook just shared a picture of a spider that they saw in their house, in the top corner near the front door, that was probably the size of my palm. For the record, she lives in Massachusetts. That is not normal! Looking at the scale of that spider made me trembly with fear and disgust. The World Race surely will be interesting…Lord, have mercy!
I sleep next to the window in my room and a couple days ago I realized there was a spider that had made its little webbed home in the bottom corner of that window, in-between the sliding glass and the screen. I like sleeping with my window cracked open to let the cool night air in, but the night that I first saw the spider sitting in its little web, my first instinct was to shut the window even though that would mean I’d wake up hot in the middle of the night. Most people wouldn’t have had a second thought and just slammed the window shut. But in that moment, I looked at how tiny the spider was and the likelihood of it actually removing itself from its nice, safe home to walk on me in the middle of the night for no reason, and I decided to change my perception. I actually changed my perception on the way I saw myself because I realized how much bigger and scarier I was to that spider. I knew that I wouldn’t be crawled on or bit by this spider, so I left my window open and snuggled into my bed, feeling perfectly at peace.
I think this is the way we need to view parts of our life. If we give in to fear, then it has power to control us. If we decide to not be afraid of whatever is in our lives, to have a different and accurate perception of it, then we’ve taken back the power and put ourselves in the position of authority to name it for what it actually is!
I actually remembered in that moment that spiders kill other insects, like ants and mosquitos and other pesky bugs. They actually help us. But there is a stigma to them that makes people forget about that fact. What fact have you forgotten about your situation? What is true about what you’re facing? And what is a lie that you’ve made yourself believe, because of others or your fears.
It may be something like support raising for those of us who have to raise a certain amount in a certain time frame. Especially those of my fellow squad-mates who still need to meet their deadline by tomorrow. That seems impossible and scary.
It may be speaking in front of your class or your boss and co-workers. It may be speaking in front of your church. It may be talking to that person that you’ve been meaning to have a serious conversation with. It may be a huge assignment that you’re dreading to do. It may be moving to a new city or state. It may be going to the doctor and receiving a diagnosis. It may be getting married or having a baby or growing old.
All of these things cause fear in some people. Some of these things cause fear in all people.
But, if you identify the truth about the situation by removing your subjective feelings or thoughts, no matter how valid they are, then you can see the situation with new eyes and realize how much stronger and bigger you are than whatever it is you have to face. How much bigger and stronger God is. You can live without your fears controlling you. You can do the things you need to do, because you know:
That thing won’t actually kill you.
Your situation will work out.
Things will be accomplished.
That person is not the enemy.
That room full of people is not judging you.
That diagnosis is not the end.
That move is a new adventure.
That assignment will not determine whether you graduate or not.
I wear a bracelet that says God is bigger for a reason. It puts things into perspective.
So whatever you have to put into perspective today, I pray that you can look at whatever it is with fresh eyes and a heart without fear!
