One discouraging word is enough to break the spirit -- it prepares the way for fear to plant itself in your soul. Fear grows and extends its long, bony fingers into the most delicate of places, the most vulnerable of emotions and experiences, and it takes hold, planting itself again and again until its down to the tiniest of roots, affecting the simplest of your thoughts and behaviors. Then you know: fear is anchored in your life.
And because it is so deeply rooted, it may take a lifetime to dig down deep enough to find its source. Where did it all begin? How did I become this way? Why do I have such an irrational fear of x? You name it.
I believe fear is what started it all. Having been secure in the presence of her Creator, Eve allowed Satan to plant fear in her heart: "What if God is holding out on me? What if He really isn't so good after all? Can I trust He is who He says He is? Can I trust that He really wants the best for me? So why wouldn't He want me to be like Him? Why wouldn't He want me to be wise? How can something that looks so good, tastes so good and can give me something so good be wrong? Why wouldn't He want me to have this fruit? What does He know that He isn't telling me?"
Suddenly, Eve isn't so secure anymore. Suddenly there is fear that her Creator isn't looking out for her. And let me tell you from experience: the moment you begin to doubt the presence of a good God watching over you, the fear is intense. And it is this fear, I believe, that is at the root of every fear.
At the heart of every fear and temptation, Satan uses this same tactic over and over again. He used it with Eve, and he used it with Jesus. "Did God really say...?" (Eve) "If you're really God..." (Jesus)
Both situations have their differences, but Satan is essentially saying the same thing to both of them:
Prove it.
Test God.
Do things your own way.
Try it out.
Tell me God's who He really says He is.
How do you even know?
You don't.
It's discouraging. Because Eve (and Adam) listened to Satan, all of mankind fell. But because of Jesus, all of mankind can be redeemed. Jesus overcame Satan's tactics of fear. Jesus overcame that temptation. I believe that in Gethsemane, Jesus experienced fear. He was afraid of the pain He knew He had to endure for us. But you know what the difference is between both Eve's and Jesus' experience with fear? Eve allowed it to take root in her heart; Jesus cast it out.
"Perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)
So if fear is where it all begins, where does it end? More fear, more pain, more hurt, loneliness, death... if you never uproot fear.
But if you allow God to rip your heart open, exposing and searching out the deepest wounds you have -- even the ones you have suppressed for so long -- you can find healing. Your end is love.
It's not going to be easy. Exposing the insides never is. Forcing yourself to dig deep inside of yourself, shifting through your darkest memories and broken relationships... it's never easy. But I dare you to not settle for "easy."
Decide today to not give fear another day to settle deeper in your life.
