Changing Your View of Snakes

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

When you ask people to list their fears, especially if you ask my wife, the answer is "Snakes." Others say enclosed spaces, fire, needles, falling, or public speaking. The one thing we are all scared of is our mortality. We do all sorts of emotional gyrations to avoid the reality of our future deaths. Yet, death is inevitable. One of our mortality gyrations is to resent change. Death is change, so change becomes unacceptable.

Change is a crucial inevitability in our mortal lives. Learning to embrace change is necessary for emotional maturity and spiritual growth. In his book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Peter Scazzero asks why change is vital to a meaningful life. Scazzero answers, "Because deeply changed people have a more powerful and sustainable impact in the world. Changed people change the world." Intentionally addressing change creates resilience, which builds a stronger you. 

Scazzero reminds us that change also transforms our relationships. When we are capable of change and less afraid of failure, we have the confidence to reach out to God and others. Confidence is not something natural to most of us. Only through ongoing, healthy nurture can we embrace change and open ourselves to others and God. 

Today, prayerfully consider the areas where fear has impeded your ability to change. Then, consider the areas of your life history where the change was beneficial. Finally, prayerfully reflect on positive, potential changes in your life. When you offer God your fear, God provides transforming courage. When you offer God your hopes, God provides avenues to healing and emotional and spiritual wholeness. The only way to embrace change is to face fear and trust God's ability to transform us.