Resources > Devotions "Measuring" Our Fears Posted by Rev. Jeff Dixon, Senior Equipping Minister, CCC Ministries on Mar 28, 2007, 16:03

Hoosiers
"Measuring" Our Fears

A March Madness
Reality Check

This article is going on line during the marvelous time of year known as March Madness. It is the time of year when even if you are not a basketball fan you can easily get caught up in the excitement of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. As the final four unfolds here are a few thoughts based upon one of the all time great basketball films ever made....Hoosiers.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you … (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV).

Additional places to read: Deuteronomy 32:7; 1 Samuel 17:37; Psalm 77:10–11; Matthew 28:19–20; Romans 15:4; 2 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 4:13

Hoosiers is the Cinderella story of a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that overcomes adversity in order to win the state championship. Norman Dale (Gene Hackman) is a former college coach with a maligned past, hired to coach the boys' team from Hickory, Indiana. (The movie is based very loosely on a real life team)

When the team arrives at Butler Field House in Indianapolis to play for the State Championship, the players' jaws drop at the size of the 6,000-seat arena with its freestanding hoops and suspended scoreboard.

Coach Dale senses their intimidation, so he instructs one of his players to take a tape measure and mark off the distance from the basket to the free throw line.

"What's the distance?" the coach inquires.

"Fifteen feet," the player with the tape calls out.

Coach Dale tells the shortest player on the team to climb on the shoulders of the tallest player and measure the height of the basket.

"How high is it?" he asks.

The boy says ten feet.

The coach says, "I believe you'll find these are the exact same measurements as our gym back in Hickory."

The team laughs, the tension eases, and they move on to prepare for the game.

This story demonstrates that what we are thinking can be completely different than the facts.

How many times have you spent worrying about something that simply wasn't true?

Sometimes all of us are too quick to jump to conclusions without any of the information we need to make a rational decision.

Moses tells us in Deuteronomy, "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you." We have to guard against fear and discouragement regularly in our lives. There are times that we have a valid reason to be fearful and discouraged, but more often, it is the "what ifs" that plague us.

What if I fail?
What if I can't handle this situation?
What if I am left alone?
What if I make a fool of myself?

When those kind of thoughts swirl through our minds like so many vultures circling for carrion, we have to take time to separate fact from fiction. Just as the Hickory boys had to measure the gym to take away the feeling of being overwhelmed, we need to "measure" the things in our lives to find out their true nature.

Lets say you are a parent and your children are not home...they are late...you grow fearful !

Is it likely that my children have just died in a car wreck? Possible, but not likely. They have been late many times but so far have arrived home in one piece. A few phone calls could help put your mind at rest. And if you can't do that, quote Deuteronomy 31:8 and trust God even if the worst happens.

Maybe you noticed that a certain person seemed to be ignoring you and you are thinking they might be mad at you. Take the ime and measure the following by asking these questions....

Is the person who is ignoring me angry, or is he just having a bad day?

Taking time to ask if you've done anything offensive can clear the air quickly. If it's nothing, you get to move on, and if you have offended, you get to make it right. Either way you are not stuck with thoughts that debilitate you that are not based in fact.

Here is your Response

What situation scares me right now? How can I find out whether my fear is based on fact or idle speculation? How can I trust God with this circumstance?