“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25

Sometimes it’s the unexpected things that slow us down. We become completely paralyzed with fear and unable to take that next step. Our dog Toby, affectionately known in our home as Eeyore, has his own issues of being unable to move forward. Daily, I walk with our two dogs that takes us through our winding trails. We encounter a variety of wildlife, seasonal flowers, towering trees, stubborn weeds and more specifically the dreaded burr. Burrs are seeds that have hooks or teeth that won’t let go easily once attached. Toby has thick fur on his paws, and like a magnet, attract any burr in his path. He manages to find one on his furry paw almost every walk. There is nothing I can do to coax him forward until it is removed, he is completely paralyzed. That burr has a hold on him. He looks up at me with those sweet dark brown eyes awaiting my helping hand.

Fear is like the hooks on a burr, the hold can be paralyzing.  Many times this feels permanent, yet another lie that the enemy longs to speak. I have to meticulously take hold of the ‘burr’ and one pluck at a time, remove the embedded fear to make room for trust. This can only happen when I take time to see what has gripped me and take the necessary measures to make sure this burr does not find a place to sink its teeth into anymore.

Fear hooks us like the teeth of a burr and paralyzes our momentum.

Today, more than ever, leaning in and really listening to fears we have will allow us to to walk forward freely. Like Toby, he needed someone to remove the burr. Maybe it’s time to allow someone to help in the same way so fear does not cause confusion between truths and lies. What are you fearful of today? I could list many fears that surround all of us daily. What are the big ones that are part of the divide evident today? If you have been hooked by a fear, ask someone you trust to gently pry it from your heart through talking, listening and praying. It may hurt. Toby acts injured until it is removed, and with great relief and full dog joy, he leaps like Tigger in Eeyore fashion.

In Proverbs 29:25 reminds us that when we choose to trust in God, we will be safe. Fear sticks like a burr, pluck it out tenderly, remove it quickly and walk freely while trusting Him. Don’t allow fear to be a snare to your soul.