Bucket Full of Fear

     I am sick and tired of seeing those I care for not succeed in their lives because of one thing. . FEAR! I am not talking about fear of snakes or spiders. Though there are some similarities. I remember when I was around seven years old and a neighbor moved our dog house, for some reason I don’t remember. There were a ton of grass snakes under the dog house. Knowing my mother had an extreme fear of snakes, he put all those snakes in a bucket. That evening when she got home, he called her out to the front yard and showed her his bucket full of little surprises. She started screaming and took off running. He chased her all the way down the street and back. She yelled very bad words at him the entire time, but she never quit running. I think every neighbor on the entire street was standing in their yards trying to figure out what horrendous crime was being committed against their neighbor! Logically, if she just faced the bucket like it was no big deal, nothing would have happened. Even if he had thrown the snakes on her, they couldn’t have done anything to her, they would have just slivered away! Fear is what makes the situation bad and fear is usually not logical. There are many things in the bucket of our mind: fear of failure, fear of disappointment, fear of abandonment, fear of inadequacy, fear of loneliness, fear of not being loved, fear of emotional hurt, fear of non-acceptance, fear of humiliation, fear of abuse, fear of…….etc. Satan picks up our buckets to taunt us and we take off running. As soon as we run, he runs after us. We can panic and scream all kinds of things, but until we stop running and face the bucket, the chase doesn’t end. In reality, the real issue isn’t the fear of the bucket. Satan will always be willing to chase us with a bucket full of false fears; he is the father of lies.     
     The real issue is your trust of God. Do you trust Him to protect you and help you with whatever is in your bucket? If you really trust Him, you won’t run at the sight of your bucket. You will stand firm, trusting Him to protect you against Satan’s taunting words. By standing firm, there is no chase, no drama, and no panic!
     What is in your bucket? What things does the bucket keep you from doing? If you could do those things, would they be a blessing to you? If so, then we can say that your fears are ruling your actions and keeping you from experiencing the blessings you could be enjoying! Who loses in this situation; Satan or you? Isn’t it time you win and show Satan that you are not afraid of anything in your bucket because you trust God totally to help you overcome its contents? Stand firm and embrace your bucket!

Fear not (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes I will hold you up and retain you in My (victorious) right hand of rightness and justice!......For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!

Isaiah 41:10, 13