Friday the 13th…how did we get to fear a simple calculated time on the calendar? According to Wikipedia, the fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia……say that 3 times real quick. The term is relatively recent. The earliest known documented reference of this superstition occurs in an 1869 biography. There are many other superstitions that connect the two together.

Some believe that Friday is an unlucky day and the number 13 is unlucky so when you combine the two, its very unlucky. Have you ever seen a 13th floor at a hotel. Many do not. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, an estimated 17 to 21 million people are affected by a fear of this day. It’s even estimated that 800 to 900 million dollars is lost in business on this day.

What causes fear to overwhelm us so much? What I’m finding is that it only takes one incident for fear to set in. Think about it. One car accident can paralyze someone from ever driving down that same road again. Some people will never drive a car again after an accident.  Once that fear is set in, it is relentless to let go.

Have you ever been hurt in a relationship? All of us have. How does that hinder you in future relationships? Many times, children get wounded when they are young and they will be gripped by a fear of being hurt again for most if not all of there lives.

While talking to a good friend today, we discussed how an imperfect earthly father can give us a distorted view of our heavenly Father. He revealed something so true…if we have a father who corrects us unjustly, then we transfer that to God and then we can’t imagine a loving God correcting us. In reality, God corrects (chastises, spanks, or withholds privileges) until we learn.

I actually just said something that even surprised me. I know that God corrects those whom He loves. It’s scriptural. Does He actually withhold privileges too? Now that’s something we could debate. Hmmm…..

Back to my point, misplaced deeds can create a fear in our lives. Fear of being hurt by someone will cause us to avoid them. We may not have that emotion surface but the fear is still there because it has never been dealt with. Fear of whatever can grip us until we gain victory over it. I have a claustrophobia. Simply not going into a tight space will make me feel better but honestly the fear is still there. No victory without confrontation. The Super Bowl or World Series would never be a victory if the 2 teams never met on the field.

So, my friend, this is just another thing I am pulling out of my suitcase. Don’t let fear stop you from being who God has called you to be. Don’t let your fear keep you out of His presence.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba Father!”
Romans 8.15