By Patricia Pike
FEAR is such a little word, yet so big. In fact, it can be a giant word. We fear so many things. What do you fear? Do you fear that your children may get hurt, that your husband may leave you someday, or that your financial security may become in jeopardy because of the economy?
As a widow, I fear many things because I no longer have a husband and partner to help with the details of life and believe me they are many. I fear the future for me and for my children. What if I can’t afford for my kids to go to college? What if I can’t make a decent salary and I spend what I have and we end up homeless? What if I don’t find a new husband? How will I make it without a partner? Will I have to make all of the decisions for the rest of my life? What if the world has a global economic collapse and there’s no more money because it’s all been spent by the countries of this world? What about war…on our own turf? Fear has a way of escalating. It can take on a life of it’s own.
Having had to face life on my own for the last three years has taught me a lot about life. You see, I was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years and had a husband who took very good care of the boys and of me. When he died, I had no clue how to negotiate my life. I was scared, mad and everything that accompanies the death of a loved one. Fear has been a constant in my life because I try to do everything on my own. I don’t know how to ask for help, so I flounder by myself of my own choosing. I keep forgetting there is Someone greater than me who wants to help me, but the pre-requisite is that I trust Him. Trust is another big word, but it’s a good word. God continues to remind me He knows my situation and He has it under control if I would just let Him have the control.
I was in the Air Force and did a little flying in the Cessna 172. As I was training, the instructor pilot would let me have the control stick so I could learn a new procedure or maneuver. When he released the control stick he would say, “Your plane,” and, then, I would acknowledge with, “My plane.” This was a way of knowing who exactly was in control of the aircraft. There was no confusion. In the same way, with respect to life, I think God wants me to say, “Your plane”, so that He can take the control stick and make sure we have a safe landing. He knows it all and I have so much more to learn. He’s the expert. I’m not.
So, I am making a decision today to trust Him. A decision to say, “Your plane,” and to hear Him say in response, “My plane.”Will you do the same? Will you release all of your fears to Him and allow Him to work in your life? You’ll be glad you did.
