Laughing at Our Fears
By Marilynn Chadwick
“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” —Proverbs 31:25 NLT
One of the things I love most about my husband, David, is the way he would encourage our children to laugh at the very things they were afraid of. He referred to their fears as “fret flies.”
Once, when our daughter, Bethany, was very young, he challenged her to conquer her fear of riding Ferris wheels. With Daddy cheering her on, she was overjoyed to finally defeat another “fret fly!”
I’m glad David is not a worrier. But that doesn’t mean he’s unaware of danger. He just doesn’t overthink imaginary scenarios. What’s more, he doesn’t spend needless energy looking back at the “if onlys” or ahead to the “what ifs” of life.
Like any pastor, he’s had to deal with all kinds of tragedies and emergencies throughout our years of ministry. But I’ve seen firsthand how his faith has strengthened him. I’ve often told him that the greatest gift he has to give others is his faith. And sometimes his laughter!
David is right. It is incredibly liberating to laugh in the face of fear. Laughter is a healthy way to lighten up. I wonder if the secret is to have such strong faith in the Lord that we can laugh at our fears. We may discover greater joy than we ever thought possible when we conquer our fret flies.
Recover the lost art of honor – and improve your relationships!
Strong, healthy relationships require honor –because people must treat each other with respect in order to develop trust and love. That’s why the Bible commands us to honor our brothers and sisters in Christ.
But that’s not always easy – especially when others frustrate us.
We want to help you improve your relationships – including your marriage – with The Lost Art of Honor, a new CD series from David and Marilynn Chadwick.
This powerful, four-part series will teach you…
- What the Bible says about honoring each other
- Practical ways to show honor to those around you
- How to cultivate a culture of honor
The Lost Art of Honor is our way of saying thanks for your gift below to give others a fresh perspective on the reasons for hope in Jesus Christ.
So, thank you for your generosity to provide a Christian voice of reason in the modern world.
For more from Moments of Hope, visit us at MomentsofHope.org.
