Overcoming Fear
The view from the top of the cliff
Terrified! That was the only word to describe my emotion at the moment. The view from the top of the cliff was beautiful, but the realization that I needed to repel down the 70 foot cliff struck fear into my soul. As a student, I knew survival training was part of the expectation for my education. (Look in the gallery for more survival training pictures). However, while I knew in advance I’d need to repel down a cliff, I didn’t know until we arrived how far it would seem from the top to the bottom: 70 frightening feet.
I handed my camera to the guide and said, “You’re going to have to talk me through this.” We slowly approached the edge and the guide made sure I was properly attached to various ropes. As he did so, I stared over the cliff to the bottom. I teetered on the edge and chickened out. I told the guide, “I can’t do this.” The guide responded, “Wait. Will you let me pray for you?” I shifted my gaze from the cliff’s bottom to the guide and said, “Yes.” He prayed for me and then said, “Listen. I’m asking you to invest some trust in me. I’ve done this with 1500 people and noone has ever been hurt. I’m asking you to invest some trust in the team. If something happens, we’ve got your rope. You won’t fall. Now let’s just take this one step at a time. Take your right foot and put it over that pipe and insert it on that ledge. Do you see that ledge?” I said yes and tentatively put my foot over the ledge. As I did so, the guide told me to put my other foot on the cliff’s rocks, lean back and slowly repel down. I began to slowly go down, 1 step at a time. The guide yelled down, “You did it and there’s photographic evidence now!” In the middle of the cliff, there was no more rock wall to press my feet against. My rope swung 180 degrees away from the cliff so I couldn’t use my feet any more. I yelled up, “I can’t use my feet any more because I’m turned around; but it’s a beautiful view!” Somewhere in the “1 step at a time process” I lost the fear of falling and actually began enjoying the scenery.
You can overcome!
Overcoming fear one step at a time
Are you fighting fear as I was? Do you have your eyes fixed on the obstacle like my eyes stared at the bottom of the cliff? I encourage you to shift your gaze from the challenge and put it on the best Guide ever, The Lord Jesus Christ. Similar to my guide, Jesus has helped many people overcome their fears. Jesus also has a team of people who will help you to face and overcome every obstacle. That team is called the church and the people there can help you. Similar to how the guide in my story helped me overcome fear “1 step at a time,” if you allow Jesus to do so, He’ll take your life and, 1 step at a time, He’ll help you overcome anything that comes against your life. Won’t you invest your whole life and complete trust and confidence in Jesus today?
If you’ve never become a believer by calling on the Lord Jesus and asking him to forgive you for things you’ve done wrong, you can do so today. Simply pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know I’ve done many things wrong. I ask you to forgive me. I thank you for dying on a cross to take my sins and make me new inside. I believe you rose from the dead and now I call you my Lord. Please come into my life and help me to overcome fear. In Jesus name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, please click on the “contact” page to contact me! I’d love to assist you with becoming part of a winning team (church) in your area so you can have support as you grow in faith.
If you’ve never become a believer by calling on the Lord Jesus and asking him to forgive you for things you’ve done wrong, you can do so today. Simply pray this prayer:
Lord Jesus, I know I’ve done many things wrong. I ask you to forgive me. I thank you for dying on a cross to take my sins and make me new inside. I believe you rose from the dead and now I call you my Lord. Please come into my life and help me to overcome fear. In Jesus name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, please click on the “contact” page to contact me! I’d love to assist you with becoming part of a winning team (church) in your area so you can have support as you grow in faith.