One unsuspecting afternoon, when I was around 15, I was writing on top of our deep freezer when suddenly, a little red spider hung from our ceiling and bit me on the neck. Unaware of what had happened, I slapped my hand on the source of my pain (mistaking it for a mosquito), and to my surprise and horror, I realized I killed a spider with my bare hands. Instant fear.
That experience didn’t reveal its lasting impact on my life until much later. While I never had the opportunity to become a real-life “Spider Woman” (which was actually quite disappointing), I did develop a fear of spiders. I can’t recall being afraid of much of anything prior to that encounter. Nearly a decade later, while in college during one of my late-night talks with God, I decided to research what the Bible says about spiders. What I discovered was more than I anticipated, and frankly, somewhat disappointing.
I was genuinely surprised to learn that spiders hold significant value in the Bible. There are several biblical references to them. The most striking passage speaks of having the faith of a spider. It says a spider spins its web with unwavering confidence, expecting God to provide the necessary location, means, pattern, and substance to sustain its natural instincts, and demonstrates blind faith in its Creator, God. Interestingly, the Bible also cautions against relying on the fragile and unstable faith of a spider’s web. The spider relies on God to produce, but knows that what it produces is at the mercy of an unreliable environment.
These revelations prompted me to question: am I afraid of spiders, or am I afraid to practice blind faith? This blog is about how God uses my fears to exercise my faith. I pray you are inspired and encouraged to dig deeper into your own fears, using them as stepping stones into your future and road maps for uncovering your purpose.
Sincerely,
L.K.D.
