FACING
OUR FEARS
By Jo Ann Durgin
Do
you remember the first time you felt afraid? I mean really afraid? I do. Even though I was barely over a year old, I
can recall my entire house shaking—photos on the wall rattling and my crib
moving across the floor—and the sheer panic I experienced. It was coming. That big old scary monster called a train.
When I
heard the ear-piercing, loud whistle announcing its approach, I just knew that
monster was coming to get me. What I find interesting is my reaction to that
panic. Instead of cowering in my crib and screaming to get out, I didn’t even
cry. What did I do? I somehow propelled myself over the bars of my crib and
onto the hardwood floor and then ran into my parents’ room. My dad once told me
this went on for months. I never cried but just climbed in and curled up beside
him. It was there I found my safe place, my comfort and protection. To this
day, though, I’m not scared of trains.
On the flip side, roller
coasters scare me to death. I’ve always avoided them until I decided to try
Space Mountain at Disney World many years ago. Disney represents safety and
security, right? Mickey and Winnie wouldn’t steer me wrong. I actually loved it
(but still won’t ever go on another roller coaster), but I think it’s because
it’s dark in Space Mountain and you can experience the speed and the ups and
downs yet not see what lies beyond
it. So, is it the fear of falling or the fear of what’s out there?
The bad things in
our life sharpen and refine us and, in the end, they make us stronger. As
difficult as it was, I wouldn’t be the same person today if I hadn’t gone
through those trials. But in working through the pain and finding the truth,
I’ve learned that God has everything under His control. We have to put our
trust in Him to work out the details. That’s hard for a lot of people, and I’m
so thankful I found Him. I guess I should say I’m blessed He found me. I am His child, and that knowledge
gave me such an unbelievable comfort when I needed it most and felt as if I was
truly all alone in the world. His love was my security blanket to wrap around
me. He’s a God of everyday miracles and He certainly worked several in my life.
Writing
my latest novel, Catching Serenity took me through a gamut of emotions—a roller
coaster of ups, downs and all-arounds. As much as any character I’ve ever
written, Serenity McClaren has faced a lot of issues in her life, including
profound loss and rejection. So many times in penning her story, I paused and
wondered how I would react given identical circumstances. Honestly? A few
times, I couldn’t presume to know how I’d personally react. But it made me
think, and as much as anything else, I want my readers to think while still being entertained. As much as the issues we face,
it’s our response to events and
people that matters and shapes our life
CATCHING SERENITY SUMMARY
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Have
you ever had a time in your life when
you’ve had to stare down fears or forces you felt were working against you?
What was your reaction and the outcome? I’d encourage you to ponder that today
with the knowledge there’s no greater comfort than that which comes from the
One who laid down His very life for
you and for me.
Many
blessings, friends, and many thanks to Ada Brownell for allowing me to share a
bit about Catching Serenity with you.
~JoAnn
Matthew
5:16
Catching
Serenity is JoAnn Durgin’s fifth full-length novel. The author of The
Lewis Legacy Series and Christmas novellas, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
and its sequel, Starlight, Star Bright, she’s an estate administration
paralegal in a Louisville, Kentucky law firm and lives in southern Indiana.
Visit her at www.joanndurgin.com or via her Author JoAnn Durgin page on Facebook.
CATCHING SERENITY ON SALE FOR 99 CENTS!
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