Eyes Wide Shut

Amarillo is not a great cultural center but there are a lot of things to do for kids. There is a symphony, a really great science museum, and then there is Thompson Park. It has picnic tables, playgrounds and a zoo. The zoo now has a lion and a tiger, but the last time I was there, other exhibits include two goats, a horse, a donkey and a skunk. Across the parking lot is an amusement park, called Wonderland Park. One summer when I was about 10 our cousins came to town and we took them to Wonderland. They talked me into going on a haunted house ride called Fantastic Journey. We climbed into the car and it started rolling toward a door which opened as we got to it. We found ourselves in a tunnel with swirling black lights We went through a second door and something jumped at the car as strobe lights flashed. That was enough. I covered my eyes and held onto my cousin's hand. I could hear the creepy noises and the screams from the people around me. My heart was beating fast and my mouth was dry. After a very long few minutes, I felt water running down my neck and the car burst through on more door into the summer sunshine. My dad asked me if it was scary. In my pre-teen wisdom, I said "How should I know? I kept my eyes closed the whole time!" Thus began my tendency to avoid things that I am afraid of.
I am not the only one who has this tendency. In Judges 6, We find Gideon hiding in a wine press threshing wheat. He was hiding from the Midianites  who would swoop in at harvest time and steal the wheat. An angel came to him and said, "Hail, mighty man of valor. The Lord is with you!"  Gideon answered "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?" The angel informed him that he had been chosen to deliver his people from the Midianites. Gideon asked not once, but 3 times for a sign that the Lord had really chosen him, including a sacrifice that was immediately consumed by fire and a bowl of fleece that was wet when the ground was dry and dry when the ground was wet. He gathered 32,000 fighting men. God told him that he had too many men and to send home anyone who was afraid. 22,000 people took him up on the offer, and I'm sure Gideon wanted to be included in that group. God said that was still too many men and told him to take the men to the river and send home anyone who cupped water in their hands for a drink. 300 men were left and divided into 3 companies. 1 on each hill around the opposing army. In one of the strangest battle strategies known, he issued each man a torch, a pitcher and a trumpet. God told Gideon that if he was still afraid to go to the enemy camp and listen. One of  the soldiers was telling another about a dream of a barley loaf rolling down the hill and destroying a tent.  The soldier listening said,"This has to be Gideon son of Joash." Encouraged by this report Gideon went back to his own camp. When he gave the signal, the 300 men broke the pitchers covering the torches and blew the trumpets. The Midianites were terrified and actually killed each other in their frantic race to get away.

One encouraging thing about this story is that I am not the only one who has dealt with fear. I love the fact that God is clear about this and does not put the Bible character on a pedestal and not let us know their weaknesses. He was patient with Gideon and worked with him through his fear. He allowed him to ask for signs  to reassure him. I also love the fact that once Gideon received his reassurance, he went ahead and acted.

Psalms 56:3 tells us this.
"When I am afraid I will trust in you."Then we read this in 2 Timothy 1:7.
"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind".
Solomon tells us in Proverbs 18:10, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and they are saved." Finally in Isaiah 43:1 is one of my life verses. 

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.

Over 300 times in the Bible we are told not to fear. God knows our weakness but he also knows the solution. Keep your eyes open to God's mercy and goodness this week.