One of the most iconic movie characters of my lifetime is the great archaeology professor and treasure hunter Indiana Jones.  Through his epic movie trilogy (I like to pretend that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull never happened) Dr. Jones, played wonderfully by Harrison Ford, became perhaps the greatest action hero of the 1980s.  Through his many adventures Indiana Jones used his knowledge of history, skill with a whip and solid right cross to track down ancient treasures and fight off Nazis all over the world.  It’s safe to say that Dr. Jones is generally regarded as a brave and nearly fearless hero.  However, as any fan of the franchise knows, there is one thing that strikes fear into the heart of the great Indiana Jones….snakes.

While Indiana Jones is certainly adverse to our scaly, slithering friends, I happen to be married to a woman who makes Indy seem like a willing snake charmer.  Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) is a common fear and some studies suggest that it may be an instinctual response originating from the amygdala in most mammals.  We heard in church last week about rational vs. irrational fears.  I think most people would consider some fear of snakes to be rational since some species have the potential to harm or even kill us.   I know I certainly don’t want to cuddle with an anaconda.  However, my wife takes rational fear to an irrational level. 

Not only will she run screaming and crying in the opposite direction even if she sees a tiny garter snake (actually happened) but she cannot even see a picture of a snake on tv without losing it.  One time, years ago, I was recovering from a surgical procedure on my heart and she and I were watching a movie.  Unfortunately a snake unexpectedly appeared on the screen and instantly she started yelling and flailing including hitting me directly and repeatedly in the chest.   This fear even invades her imagination.  She legitimately fears a scenario where one of our sons finds a snake and brings it to show her, she is then paralyzed by fear and collapses, at which point the boy drops the snake, it slides down her throat and kills her.  Highly likely, right?

The point of all this is not to have a laugh at my wife’s fears but to point out how irrational reactions, even to somewhat rational fears rob us all of rest.  My wife isn’t like Indiana Jones who gets a brief scare and is then able to carry on his quest.  She is legitimately traumatized by exposures to her fear.   As a husband I do try to reassure her that she’ll be ok but I also point out how irrational or over the top she is in her reactions (just what every woman wants to hear I’m sure).   But she’s really just expressing outwardly what everyone, including myself, struggles with inwardly.  I don’t have a fear of a particular animal or heights or enclosed spaces and I’m not visibly upset or paralyzed when facing my fears but they are still real. 

I mostly fear failure and I mostly define that by professional failure.  I fear I’ll lose my job for some reason.  I fear I’ll lose my board certification and no one will hire me, we’ll lose our comfortable life, our house, everything I feel like I’ve worked so hard for.   I don’t cry or scream when I think about it and I don’t freak out and start slapping a post-surgical patient at their surgical site, but the fear is equally real.  And it robs my soul of rest just as much as a rattlesnake in our living room would rob my wife of rest.  (maybe not quite so dramatically)

 The reason this fear is so easily able to trouble my soul is that I consider myself to be the only means of avoiding this outcome.  If this recent sermon series has any effect on me it should be to stop being so self-reliant.  Not that I should stop working as hard to achieve my goals, but just to realize that I have a God that cares for and looks after me and my family.  I have a God with plans to prosper me and not to harm me.  I need to realize that I am not 100% of the equation.  I am not 100% in control of all the outcomes and that I have to rely on the Lord to continue to bless us out of his great generosity.  And then I need to take rest in his blessings, keep my heart still and be grateful for his grace.   I need to be able to cast these fears away and into the hands of the one who truly has this all under control.  

Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10