At a recent medical check up, I was a little taken aback at what I will call the “bedside manner” or lack thereof of the technician who did my lab work.  I know not everyone is a morning person, but I laughed to myself as she finished up and said “have a nice day” with about as much enthusiasm as someone might say “my dog just died.”  My first thought was “Dang, girl, who put coffee in your cornflakes?”

But, then I silently admonished myself.  She may have just been having a bad morning, or a bad day.  For all I knew, she could have been having a bad week.  Or, she may have thought I was angry that she was not able to draw any blood on the first stick and had to stick me twice.  But, I wasn’t.  I was certainly disappointed because there are not many things I hate more than having to be stuck by a needle.  However, it wasn’t the first time I had to be stuck more than once.  And, chances are, it may not be the last.  Especially since my aversion to needles could be the reason why the phlebotomist sometimes has to do a second stick.  

I read that tensing up while getting your blood drawn actually makes the experience even worse as the stress can temporarily spike your blood pressure. This spike causes your blood vessels to narrow, making it harder for the phlebotomist to find your veins to draw blood.  Yet, I still find myself tensing up every time. You would think that since I have blood drawn a minimum of once a month that I would be used to it by now, but I’m not.

Reflecting on this reminded me of the story in Mark 9:24 when the father of a very child posses by an evil spirit said to Jesus, in tears,  “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”  A very stark reminder that even those of us who have faith are not immune to doubt.  However, we must also accept the fact that we cannot please God without faith.  And, as someone once said, “faith and fear cannot live in the same house.”  At least, they cannot peacefully coexist together.  When we find ourselves doubting, we must turn to God for help with our faith.  It’s human nature to be afraid sometimes. Hebrews 4:15 assures us that Jesus understands our human weaknesses. But it’s our Christian responsibility to respond to God’s true nature by remembering 2 Timothy 1:7 and realizing that we don’t have to live in a constant state of fear.  Maybe this is why Luke 18:1 is so important.  Luke reminds us to always pray and not to faint.  

I wanted to share this insight today because I wondered how many other situations we make worse in our lives by allowing fear of life’s “needles” to get in the way.  How many times do we have to redo tasks because we tense up and don’t do a good job the first time? How many apologies go unsaid?  How many books are unwritten?  How many words of encouragement are unspoken?  How many projects are incomplete?

Yes, fear of failure is very real.  But, so is the concept behind 2 Timothy 1:7, Luke 18:1 and finally Philippians 1:6.  

So, I want to offer these words of encouragement today. The next time you find yourself facing a “sticky” situation, drowning in a sea of doubt or just dreading another encounter of something that is a routine part of your life, meditate on those verses.  Embrace your faith and pray past your fear.  Even if you have to pray, “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Have a blessed day!

Shelia