Playing around sewing machines was a dumb thing to do, even for a four-year-old. Too much running and not enough looking eventually causes accidents and mine was a big one. The table for holding fabric was just above my eye level and I ran into it hard, fell backwards and started screaming. Blood was spurting everywhere. Normally sane adults were panic-stricken as I found myself being thrown into a car and rushed to the local hospital emergency room.

“He’ll need stitches just over his left eye,” said the doctor. The three adults who brought me all nodded in agreement. Of course, I didn’t know any of this. Instead, I saw a man about to cover my face with a sheet. (They did that in those days!) Blind and scared, I did what only comes natural for a four-year-old in a fix. I kicked and screamed my bloody head off.

They told me later that one man held my head, another lay across my body while several more held a leg or an arm, all as the poor doctor applied the local anesthetic and three stitches. What made this experience so memorable however was what happened next. After the surgeon finished, I sat up, looked around the room and with a smile proclaimed: “That didn’t hurt!”

The adults involved laugh about the story now, but at the time, they wanted to give me a demonstration of real pain by tanning my backside! So, why was I so frightened? Was I just a being a wimp? (Please don’t answer. My ego is fragile enough already!)

Obviously there was real pain caused by the head injury but in addition there was the fear of the unknown namely the sheet covering my eyes. The combination made for one scared little boy. The reality, however, wasn’t nearly so bad. So, after the sheet was removed and the ordeal was over; I could smile (while everyone else groaned) and confidently say: “That didn’t hurt!”

Let’s face it, we all face situations which cause pain but the real danger comes when we combine the actual pain with the imagined fear of the unknown. This becomes a formula for disaster.

• The boss wanders into your office unexpectedly and asks to meet with you in the morning.

• Your doctor calls and wants to discuss your latest test results personally.

• A good friend has become more distant lately with no explanations.

How would you respond? Would you spend a sleepless night worrying? Would you stomp into boss’s office with bags under your eyes and a fiery disposition demanding an explanation? Maybe there would be a few late night phone calls to friends while you cry over imagined tragedies? Would you visit a local tavern or liquor store and quietly drink your troubles away?

We get scared of the unknown and respond by kicking and screaming instead of trusting in God to see us through. Here are some realistic spiritual remedies to calm your fears:

• Psalm 34:4 — I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.

• Matthew 6:25-27 — “I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.”

• 1 John 4:18 — Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.

1. Pray to the Lord.

2. Don’t worry about everyday life.

3. Perfect love expels all fear.

A friend advised: “Larry, if you can learn to replace your all night worry sessions with an hour of heartfelt prayer, you’ll begin to feel better and get more sleep.” Can we ease our fears with prayer and a promise from God? Of course you can. Try it for yourself! In the end, God offers the unique opportunity to face our troubles with boldness and say to the world: “That didn’t hurt!”


2 Comments

Juli · July 25, 2015 at 10:21 pm

I’m 19 years old. I always worry about my life. I dont speak english so well, so I hope you can understand what I’m talking about.
Well, its really hard for me to explain this all but I do hate my life. Not because I dont believe in God, but because of all the sickness happened in my life. First, I always feel like the only one different in my family. I never do things right. I’m the black sheep of this family.
Its hard for me to talk to my dad and its hard for him to listen to me anyways.
My mom always forces me to be something and someone I dont want to be.
My mom always hugs my little sister every night. My dad always laughs happily everytime he talks with my older sister. Me? I’m nobody.
Maybe you think its all my fault just like, “Its you that have to come close to your parents if you wanna get their attentions and love”. But trust me I’ve tried so hard and its never gonna happen. I’m always wrong. They said I’m a trouble maker. It hurts me too much.
I just wanna be loved by my parents as they love my sisters. I just wanna be the part of that family. To be accepted for who I am. I got nobody to talk, no place to go, I’m so dying inside.
I never blame on anyone and also God that I always try to strengthen myself by praying and trying it and now I’m getting bored and sick of this life.
I’ve got all the symptoms of a hopeless person. I really wanna know how it feels to be loved and hugged by a father and a mother. Is it wrong?

    larrydavies · July 27, 2015 at 9:56 am

    No, it’s not wrong at all to want to be loved. I don’t know about your situation but please know that I will be praying for you. I urge you to find other ways to get involved with a local church or within your school. If there is a counselor, please look for ways to share with her or with him. I pray they can help you to find a way to communicate to your parents how you feel.

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