Yesterday, I saw an animal, a little squirrel—trapped—upon my open, wrap-around porch.

I sat rocking slowly, watching the squirrel timidly look at me from the corner of the house,

Fearful, not knowing which way he should run to escape.

Earlier this week, on Sunday morning, I saw another squirrel—trapped—between two lines on a highway.

There he sat in the middle, on the dotted line.

Trapped between two lines, one yellow, one white—trapped on the highway, fearful for his life.

Darting left.  Darting Right.  Looking.  Frightened.  Heart Pounding.  Hesitating.

Going but not going.

Which Way to Go?

To stay in the middle—surely means death.

To stay in the middle—sitting on the dotted line.

To stay in the middle of indecision.

To go to the other side—surely brings life.

To go to the other side—surely brings freedom.

To go—means death is escaped and life is received.

Oh how these squirrels resembled humanity.

Oh how these squirrels look so much like us.

Going but not really going.

Darting this way and that way.

Deciding but not really fully deciding.

Struggling to follow.

Following but not fully following, fully trusting God.

Some believe & fully know their HOPE is found in Jesus is their Savior and Lord.

Some have hoped their works, their attendance makes them secure.

Some are trapped in the middle, sitting on the dotted lines, caught in the land of indecision.

Some are living in the land of lostness, trapped in the darkness of Satan’s lies.

Take, for example, the spouse who hugs goodbye to her husband before he must leave home to serve his country on a war-torn soil.

Take, for example, an individual living in fear of cancer, fighting the ultimate fight for life, battling every day against the cancer that rages inside her.

Take, for example, the parents who stand by their child’s hospital bed, hopeful their child will heal.

Take, for example, the one whose body is ravaged with pain, the one who is scared because her heart is pounding, & her body is just not acting like normal.

Take, for example, the spouse who stands next to the graveside of the one she has pledged to love—until death they do part—and now the one left is afraid and questions—What Now, Lord?

Take, for example, the parents who are devastated by the miscarriage of their baby.

Take for example, the people facing war upon their own soil, as bombs strike against and destroy their homes and their lives.

Yes, take, for example, the Ukrainians fighting day and night for their right to remain a free people.

Take, for example, the two Nordic nations who are fearful of retaliation for what they plan to do.

Take, for example, the way Covid placed fear in our minds, fear of the unknown virus.

Take, for example, those students leaving home for the first time, going off into life, beginning life.

Take, for example, the one who must live so far away from the family she misses and loves.

Yes, take, for example, a student who desires to just go home but does not want to disappoint those who have given her this opportunity.

Take, for example, the many students walking across the stage, graduating from the university.

Take, for example, those mothers who fear they will not be able to purchase the needed formula for their baby.

Take, for example, those entering a new season of life—retirement—and wondering if they’ve saved enough.

Take, for example, the ones who just don’t know where the money will come from to pay their monthly bills and to place food upon their tables.

Take, for example, the parents who are striving to raise their children in the world today.

Take, for example, the children who are faithfully seeking the Lord’s will as they care for their sick & elderly parents.

Oh yes, take, for example, all the children who are forced to grow up, to live in foster-care, apart from their parents.

Take, for example, the congregation who enters a new season of searching, of waiting for the man God is calling to be their pastor.

Take, for example, those stepping into a new career, hoping they are making the correct decision.

Take, for example, those who just experienced a shooting within their community supermarket or house of worship.

Take, for example, the decision to follow our heart.

Take, for example, our decision to follow Jesus Christ as Savior & Lord.

Take, for example, all the people who are just really—Just Afraid!

There are many who have been afraid in their past. &

There are so many who will be afraid in a future day. &

There too, are so many who are there—afraid—now.

So, the question becomes, what must all of us do when we are afraid?

The only way is to share God’s Word, so let’s read the Scripture together.

Let us see In the Bible how David reacts when he was afraid.

Please See With Me.