I admit also that perhaps life could be quite different were it not for one factor that affects us all in many ways (not that I am complaining of present circumstances).

Marie Curie said: "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."

Well, I understand spiders and wasps, but still quiver upon an encounter!

Fear is perhaps the greatest barrier to freedom.

Our world, our lives, our days are plagued with fear; terrorism (of all kinds), crime, intimidation (including bullying), stress, disease, natural calamity face us constantly. The list is endless.

Fear is also our friend; we need it for our survival, our protection. Certain spiders we need to fear, otherwise we die!

There are other fears also, those affecting our emotions: of being unloved, unwanted, unnoticed, undermined.

Fear of death and what (if anything) lies beyond. Irrational fears that we label as phobias we are also prone to.

We can so easily be crippled by fear, and quotes such as "There is nothing to fear except fear itself" are not much help to us in reality.
Jesus Christ knew about fear, he experienced it deeply, and was intimately aware of its effect on people.

He urges his disciples not to be afraid but to trust Him, knowing how fear can destroy their faith, and ultimately His ministry and influence in the world.

God knows how afraid we are. He loves us deeply and is concerned about us so much. Putting our trust in God through Jesus will not remove all fear from our lives, but will give us strength and wisdom beyond ourselves to understand it, overcome it, cope with it and even use it to our advantage.

A Swedish proverb says, "Worry gives a small thing a big shadow". I say living within the light of God's love makes the shadow of fear less visible.

However, in the corner of my shed is a thick cobweb. I'm not going there!