Today’s message for me from God is centering around fear. An acronym for fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. I had never seen myself as one who feared until the summer I had retired from my school district after 35 years of service there. I had retired not to quit but to step into consulting with schools who were struggling. Its too long of a story to write it out there, but a month after retiring I found out that the plan another friend and I had made (which seemed solid) had lost its financial support. I had told this to a good friend and said something about fearing what I was now to do? This friend had been a “best friend” since college days. When I said this to him, he grabbed my shoulders and said, “Earnie, when are you ever going to quit fearing and start trusting?”

As I began to process this truth spoken to me I started realizing just how much I did fear. I truly feared heights, deep water, unexpected touch, prolonged hugs, proximity when someone is talking to me, close relationships with men and much more. I’m well aware of the roots to these fears today, but at that time I had no clue–they just existed. I don’t let these fears dominate my life today even though they want to pop up in unexpected times. Today I know to put my HOPE in God for fearing God is what we are told to do. He is the very ONE who will take care of all our fears if we will simply TRUST Him to do so. He has been so Kind and Thorough in helping me address all of mine. (I am glad though that when He takes us to heaven I’ll not be in my flesh. That height might be a little much!)