Are you afraid of something? Maybe COVID? The dark? Being isolated? The unknown? If you are, you’re not alone. When I took a two-week trip in 2020 to Whidbey Island in Washington to work on The Windblown Girl: A Memoir about Self, Sexuality, and Social Issues, I struggled with each of those fears. Perhaps seeing my experience will help you find freedom from your fears, too.

Taking A God-Given Opportunity

We can choose to play it safe all our lives, or go for a life filled with incredible experiences. As a child, I was fearful enough to never want to venture outside of my comfort zone. My mom spent most of her life trying to control that space for herself. A single woman she refused to travel alone even though there were places she wanted to go and things she wanted to do. Determined not to let fear dictate my decisions, I chose to trust God instead. And, to be honest, sometimes that’s scary.

Several opportunities over the years have been worth the risk of trying to overcome my concerns. But none compares to the Whidbey Island trip. I’ve wanted to go there ever since my mom’s neighbor first mentioned Hedgebrook’s Writer-in-Residence program. Each woman stays in her own cabin. They eat breakfast and lunch there, then in the evenings the diverse group of writers gathers for a dinner prepared by a gourmet chef. That’s when the women get to know each other and discuss their projects. There seemed no better way to get feedback from readers with differing worldviews. And, I’d be with people in case anything happened. Yet, when my application for 2020 was rejected for the third time, I decided to explore other options. Writing at home offered too many distractions. My friend Leslie Wickman loves going to Whidbey Island, so I thought it might be an ideal place to concentrate on finishing my manuscript–if I could find a place to stay.

What I didn’t know until some God-ordained twists and turns was that Leslie owns a beach cottage there. When she offered to rent it to me at a friend’s rate, I recognized God’s hand on the details. Though I wouldn’t know a single soul in that area, I wasn’t going to let fear keep me from this amazing opportunity. However, that didn’t change the reality that I was afraid. What if I got sick? Or encountered critters in that mountainous terrain? Or the electricity went out? Who knew what might happen?

Risking the Adventure 

God doesn’t want His children to be ruled by a spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminded me:

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

So, even though on January 21st the CDC announced that the first case of COVID had been identified in Washington state, I flew to Seattle on January 27th. That was the first time I saw a few people in the United States wearing masks. By the time I returned on February 10th, the Trump administration had declared a public health emergency. Rather than retreat from my plans, Jesus gave me the courage and freedom to go on the journey of a lifetime –one designed especially for me.

Controlling My Thoughts

Still, far worse than my fear of COVID was my fear of the unknown. What if I couldn’t find the cabin or work the lock box once I arrived? What if I did something stupid getting on the ferry? What if . . . ? What if . . . ? However, over time I’ve learned not to do the “what ifs.” When I recognize that problem, 2 Cor. 10:5b encourages

taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Practice makes that easier. And because of the Windblown Girl story, I’d had lots of practice consciously choosing to stand on the rock of Christ and not to dwell on the negatives. Choosing to control my thoughts and take them captive changed everything when I stopped at the grocery store before getting on the ferry. After checking out, I went to put the groceries in the car and was stunned to see that something had hit and scraped not just the side, but also the trunk. I deduced that the wind must have blown a cart into that immaculate little rental. But rather than freak out as I was inclined to do, I remembered not only to discipline my thoughts but also the insurance that would take care of the problem.

Praying ahead of time also helped. Jesus worked out circumstances for me to come on this trip, so I knew He’d be faithful in the details even providing my insurance policy’s deductible. Years of experience had taught me to trust the One, who is always Faithful and True to handle what I cannot. That gave me peace and increased my confidence.

Remembering God’s presence

Sometimes, though, I get nervous about the stupidest stuff–like driving a car onto a ferry. Or opening a lock box. Other times, my fear involves something much bigger. Like the electricity going out during a fierce storm and looking down the beach to see that it was pitch black. No light. Not a single twinkle. During the week most of those houses on the beach weren’t inhabited. I was alone. It was dark. Thunder roared. Lightning flashed. Someone might break in. Yet  Isaiah 41:10 brought comfort.

Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will also help you,
I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.

God’s presence gave me peace. Nothing could touch me that He didn’t allow. 

Preparing Ahead of Time

Before the trip, one night the lights went out at my home. And I discovered that standing a flashlight on end gave the entire room a delightful glow. So, I stuck two flashlights in my carry on, just in case.

That way when I couldn’t find Leslie’s flashlight (which was right where she’d said it would be), I got mine. After reading awhile, I laid in bed up in the loft and looked out the window across the sound. Lights glittered in the distance. And, I knew I’d be OK. The storm raged throughout the night filling one neighbor’s basement with water and blocking another’s with two feet of  mud. But I was OK–and no longer alone as people came to take care of their cottages.

Memorable Moments

When I tried to go get more groceries the next day, a fallen tree completely blocked the road. Next to it stood a beautiful doe watching me. Seeing that creature amid nature’s destruction was breath-taking. Well worth the drive only to turn around and go back to the cabin where I opened a can of soup.

A sunrise one day (see the picture at the top of this post) also made the trip unforgettable. While I sat at the computer early one morning, I watched the sun come up as I did most days. With its pink-edged clouds I thought the sky was pretty. The ferry chugged across the sound in the distance.

A few minutes later I was back to work when I heard a quiet voice whisper in my mind saying, “Look up.” The entire sky had turned a brilliant violet glazed with vibrant red. After a few moments the glorious sun’s golden rays broke through. I’d never experienced anything like it nor would i ever forget that stunning moment. I only wish I knew how to post the video that I uploaded to Facebook. (If you follow me there, you can see it in my photos. And if you sign up for my e-newsletter, I’m going to put a link in it this month with photos from my cruises including one of the rescue at sea that I wrote about in my book.) 

God even surprised me by taking care of the scrapes on the car. When I turned it in, the rental company didn’t even want to file a report because they had coverage for wind damage.

Most of the writing I did during those two weeks on Whidbey Island eventually had to be revised. It was almost as though that entire experience was designed for me to face my fears. Conquering them gave me a newfound confidence well worth the adventure. There’s no doubt that Jesus can give you freedom from your fears, too, so the next time a God-sized opportunity comes up, go for it–even if you’re scared. You’ll be glad you did.