If You're Scared… Go To Church!

I don’t know if you are familiar with the phrase “If You’re Scared… Go To Church” but I remember while growing up this being a common phrase that my peers would use to talk smack about being scared.  This phrase was used on the basketball court, used to challenge the fellas to ask a girl on a date or used in any context of fear or being scared.  In other-words if you showed some sort of fearful hesitation someone would spout off “If You’re Scared… Go To Church!”

I hadn’t thought of that phrase for as long as I can remember, until just the other day for some reason it popped into my head.  The other night me and my two sons Wesley (10) and Jayden (6) decided to go on a bike ride while my wife cleaned out their closets (we didn’t want any part of helping).  We actually rode a good ways to see some of our old neighbors in our previous neighborhood. 

We were all riding in somewhat of a single-file line; however there was one problem, every time we rode over one of those drainage-grates in the street, my 6yo. son Jayden would literally fall off of his bike and slide in the middle of the street.  He was petrified to ride across those drainage-gratess and wasn’t havong any part of it.  Although, he had a helmet on he didn’t have any protective knee or elbow gear and I was getting a little worried.  After several dad-to-son pep talks and through his big crocodile tears; I literally forced Jayden to ride across the drainage grate.  Through the tears, you could see the joy and now he rides across the drainage-grates like a “Big-Boy!”

I think I’ve come to understand maybe what the original intent/context was for the phrase “If You’re Scared… Go To Church!”  Scripture clearly says in 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear.  If you’re fearing something you might need to go to church and trust the God of the Heavens and The Earth.  Again, if you’re fearing something, no matter what it is… remember that fear is not from God because He has not given us the spirit of fear.

What drainage-grates in your life do you need to forced to ride over?  Share your thoughts on the paralyzing affects of fear? If You’re Scared… Go To Church!