HIS FACE IN MY JOURNEY
Tempted by Fear
"No temptation will seize you except what is common to man. And God is faithful. He
will not allow you to be tempted by more than you can bear. And when you are
tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
One day during my recovery, I took a walk through my neighborhood. A domestic rabbit began to
follow me, circling my feet as I trodded. I was deep in thought and did not want to take the time to deal
with the pesky critter. But being accosted by a domestic rabbit is an unusual event, and I couldn't help but
take notice. As I stopped and gazed upon the frightened ball of fur beneath my feet, I realized that this, too,
is one of God's creatures. Someone loved this little animal, and I needed to care for it.
After finding it's home, I continued on my walk and felt a giggle rising up in my spirit. I smiled as I recognized that
my motivation for helping the animal was God. It was Him who had inspired me to do the right thing, and I could
sense that He was pleased. The experience immediately opened up my spirit and connected me to the Father. He revealed some things that had been on my heart, including some hidden
anxietyI had over my upcoming appointment with my oncologist. In that moment,
the Lord showed me that fear is a temptation that I could resist. I simply had to choose
to look for the alternative that He provided. I had never thought of fear this way before.
I had always experienced it as a sort of Goliath; a furious giant with a life and a power all it's own.
Temptations, on the other hand, were annoyances that, with His help, I could work around. As the Lord changed
my perspective and enabled me to view fear as a mere temptation rather than an overwhelming force, I was empowered to alter my response and resist the enemy's grip.
