“Gripped by Fear, Released by Truth” by Heather Morris

One crystal-clear day thirty years ago, a little girl learned to ride her bike with no training wheels. For months, her father had been holding the seat, running alongside her. He may have started her ride by encouraging her that she was “doing great,” but it was his silent, strong presence that reassured her that he would help, that he would not let her go. Every so often, she would say, “Daddy, I’m afraid. Daddy, don’t let go.” He may have whispered, “I am here. I am with you,” or she may not have heard any words, but she would always feel a hand tighten on her shoulder.

Our lives are filled with fear and uncertainty. The shifting decade has brought with it a shift in much of what we once thought we knew as a society. Where, perhaps before, we felt safe behind our walls of vaccination or medical progress, this novel coronavirus has demonstrated that we do not fully understand the world in which we live, that our modeling and predictions cannot trace all outcomes, and that maybe we are more fearful and more fully connected as a species than we would like to admit. We grapple with mastering our technology, before our technology masters us. Our society is gripped with fear – fear of death, fear of not having enough, fear of being alone, fear of others who are not like us, fear of being wrong, fear of being left out. One recent study concluded that our children are now some of the most anxious since data on anxiety began to be collected^[i].

And we worry that the study is not accurate…

And we worry about our children…

 And we worry about the increase of worry.

Through the fire of fear and the fog of confusion cuts a still, small voice. It says “Do not fear. Do not be afraid. I am with you.” This Voice gently grabs hold of our shoulders, turns our fearful eyes toward it, and speaks those words over us as a benediction. This Voice does not promise that all will be made right immediately. This Voice does not guarantee no pain or suffering. But this Voice promises to be with you, to not let you fall, to walk with you through every circumstance and worry. Our world around us shouts, “You don’t know what is going to happen next. You need to make a plan. It is all up to you.” This one small Voice whispers, “Do not be afraid. I am with you.”

Thirty years later, on another crystal-clear day, that same little girl had grown into a mother, holding onto the handlebars of her own little girl’s bicycle. Her daughter was struggling with fear, paralyzed and unable to peddle her little bicycle, even with the training wheels on. “Mommy, what if I fall? What if I fall, Mommy?” she cried over and over, with tears streaming down her face. And I, the first little girl whose father had reassured her with his presence and who now, moment by moment, tries to rest and listen to that small Voice, knelt close to my sobbing, fearful daughter and whispered, “Do not be afraid, because I am with you. I will never let you go. I will not let you fall.”

And in those words, I heard a tiny echo of Lord Jesus’ whisperings to His Beloved, to His Church – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NIV

“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.” Genesis 26:24

“Do not be afraid…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you…” Jeremiah 1:8

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^[i] Bitsko, R. et al. 2018. “Epidemiology and Impact of Health-Care Provider Diagnosed Anxiety and Depression Among US Children.” J. Devel. and Behav. Peds. 39(5):395-403.

Written by Heather Morris ~

Heather Morris is a research scientist/technologist for a local NASA contractor by day and an avid reader and creative writer by night. As an adoring wife to Chris for thirteen years and as mother to three children (ages 11, 9, and 4), she finds equal delight in reading The Chronicles of Narnia out loud to her children or curling up with an Agatha Christie novel at the end of the day. She is enamored with Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis, animals, biochemistry, the NPR “Radiolab” podcast, running, snow skiing, peppermint mochas, and all things British. Above all else, she is captivated by the one True Story of Jesus – the story that resonates through all history and reverberates in all creation. She would love to hear from you at @heathercmorris on Instagram or by following her blog at storieland1981.wordpress.com. 

Tags: anxiety, fear, Heather Morris, Truth, worry