For God has not given us a spirit of fear

I took this photograph a few days ago, from the cabin of the IFS Cloud Cable Car that I was gliding across the river in, by the O2,  London.

There was a time when I had such a fear of heights, I would never have gone anywhere near these cable cars, let alone ride in one, and the thought alone would have given me a panic attack.

Not only did I have a fear of heights, I couldn’t drive on the motorways, over bridges, through tunnels, fly, go on a train or take the lift.  I was anxious about so many things; but it wasn’t always that way. 

In my younger days, I actually took the glass lift capsule, which sits on the outside of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, all the way up to the restaurant at the top. I also went to the peak of Schilthorn mountain in Switzerland, it was so high we had to take a couple of cable cars to get to the top of the mountain, which took about half an hour.  The view was breath-taking. I could drive or fly anywhere, and I had no problem with lifts and no fear of anything.

When I think back, my fears seemed to begin at a time in my life when I was going through a lot of stress. I remember how trapped I felt at the time, not having the confidence to do what I used to do, and I had to rely on family and friends to drive on the motorway, and everything was beginning to revolve around my fears and anxiety about driving.

I went along to a Christian prayer meeting one day, and a well-known Minister was a guest speaker at the Church.  He was praying for people at the end of the meeting and asked me if I needed prayer.  I took the opportunity and told him about my fears and he prayed for me and told me that I had a spirit of fear, and that Jesus has now set me free, and I should go and drive on the motorway. 

I felt relieved that he had prayed, and God had set me free, but I still felt anxious.  I pondered on it all and thought that if I don’t put my faith into action, I will stay where I am.  It is up to me now to do my bit.  If someone takes their driving test and passes, they have the legal right and freedom to drive a car.  It is up to them to get into the car and drive, but if they choose not to, even though they have been given the certificate to drive, it would be such a waste.  If I don’t step out in faith in the freedom Jesus has given me, then I am not trusting Him.

I gradually started driving on the motorway. I asked a family member to come with me as I drove one exit at a time. When I finally managed to do it on my own, I can’t say that I didn’t feel a bit nervous, but I took a deep breath, put on my Christian music, opened the window of the car, and I did it. Praise God.  I then slowly started to go in a lift, over bridges, through tunnels and now am free from fear.  That was over 25 years ago.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7  

When I looked up at the height of the cable cars the other day, and the enormous steel structures reaching up to some 300 feet high in the sky, I took it as a challenge. I had overcome my fears many years ago, so I wasn’t going to give in to fear anymore.  I know first hand that if you face your fears and override them, the results will be nothing but success.  

 

Sometimes, when we are writing, the challenge seems so great, we never think we can get it done, but when we put our faith God to help us, it will flow, and before we know it, we are there.  

God Bless.

Derrice has written a book called "Glenna's Angel - A Miracle from God" which is a true account of when God sent and Angel to her mother and healed in instantly in the ambulance from a near-death stroke.  It changed her mother's life from that day on.  The book is on Amazon and can be obtained in bookstores worldwide.  

Derrice has also written articles for some church magazines.