Transcend: Fear

When I was about 11 or 12, I went to Malaysia with my family on vacation. We were staying with family for most of our vacation, but we also travelled to a remote seaside resort. My dad always loved sight-seeing, so we would often spend hours driving and walking to faraway destinations.

Upon arrival at the resort, my sister and I hurriedly changed into our swimwear and headed out to the beach. There was no one around, only a few people in the distance, and the water was kind of murky. My sister had her doubts, but I said, "It's fine, let's go in". So as I begin to walk in, I cut my foot on glass. At least that's what I thought.

As it turns out, I was bitten and poisoned. To this day we're not sure what it was (maybe a catfish), but I couldn’t have taken more than a few steps in. I told my sister to go and get a band-aid, but realizing the severity of the situation, she ran and got my parents. My mom instantly recognized that I was poisoned, and my dad carried me off across the street where – thank God – we found an English-speaking doctor. He had seen many injuries like mine before, and was able to administer antidote and pain-killer. Suffice to say I lived, but I remember the pain persisted for at least a full day.

From that day forward, I avoided stepping into any body of water other than a swimming pool. No lakes, no rivers, no ocean.

Then my mom told me that we were going to Hawaii for a family vacation this year. So when we finally arrived in Hawaii last week, I hadn't stepped into the ocean in roughly 14 years. It was deliberate avoidance. I didn't want to experience that kind of pain again.

But I decided to go in. I swam. I had fun. I feel like it had more symbolic and spiritual significance than any emotional significance. I didn't cry. I didn't leap for joy. But I broke the cycle. I left my fears behind, and they melted away in the beautiful oceans of Kauai. Truth be known, I was probably ready to go back in a lot sooner, but this was my first opportunity in a long time and I didn't want to pass it up. This time I didn't get hurt or bitten by any venomous creature. It was wonderful.

Understand, we can have fears about every imaginable thing. Losing a significant other. Going broke. Missing an opportunity. We are broken people, but God is putting us back together. God wants to restore all that was lost, and bless you beyond that.

Do you have fears from the past? I would encourage you to see it for what it really is and face up to it. Maybe you're not ready yet. That's okay, but your time will come. You'll be more than ready with God at your side.