Tomorrow is about the 100th time I’ve started teaching or taking a new session of classes. You would think I’d have nothing to worry about. It has gotten easier, especially now that I am only part time. Nevertheless, I still have butterflies today. Butterflies symbolize transformation, freedom, and a new season of life. But when they are in your stomach, butterflies also mean you are facing a little fear.
I’m looking forward to the new semester, but until it starts, I wonder, Will it go well? Will I connect with students? Will they be willing to work and learn? Will any be difficult? How bad will COVID mess things up?
How about you? You ever get nervous? Does fear ever hit you too? Some of you have been around as long as I have. Do we ever get to a point when we don’t have to worry about fear?
If you worries or fears ever come your way, welcome to the club! I’m not sure we will ever completely get over them. Maybe we weren’t intended to. Perhaps the goal is not to be completely fearless, the goal is to fear less. Every fear we have tells us something important. Fear can tell us that something is dangerous, and we need to proceed cautiously. Fear can be telling us there is something we need to work on overcoming.
But fear is also a reminder to turn to God. So when those butterflies start fluttering, remember there is a reason “Do not fear!” is the most common command God gives in the Bible. He knows we all face fears of different kinds. But when fear confronts us, He wants us to trust Him and give our fears to Him. We may never be completely fearless, but we can, especially with God’s help, learn to fear less. And fearing less helps us enjoy life more. To all students and teachers, hope you have a great semester!
How about you? You ever get nervous? Does fear ever hit you too? Some of you have been around as long as I have. Do we ever get to a point when we don’t have to worry about fear?
If you worries or fears ever come your way, welcome to the club! I’m not sure we will ever completely get over them. Maybe we weren’t intended to. Perhaps the goal is not to be completely fearless, the goal is to fear less. Every fear we have tells us something important. Fear can tell us that something is dangerous, and we need to proceed cautiously. Fear can be telling us there is something we need to work on overcoming.
But fear is also a reminder to turn to God. So when those butterflies start fluttering, remember there is a reason “Do not fear!” is the most common command God gives in the Bible. He knows we all face fears of different kinds. But when fear confronts us, He wants us to trust Him and give our fears to Him. We may never be completely fearless, but we can, especially with God’s help, learn to fear less. And fearing less helps us enjoy life more. To all students and teachers, hope you have a great semester!
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