Have you ever been afraid to try something again that scared or defeated you the first time you did it?

Many of you know that I struggle with claustrophobia. It has most definitely gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. Claustrophobia has prevented me from doing some pretty cool things, like climbing the clock tower at the top of Old Main at Penn State University. I took one look up the narrow, enclosed staircase and my brain went “NOPE” loud enough for the clock to hear it. So I sat at the bottom and waited for everyone to tell me how amazing the views of campus were from up there.

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to climb one of our famous lighthouses in the Outer Banks. My family is visiting, and my daughter wanted to climb the Currituck Lighthouse like she did growing up. I did not have a problem with it in those years, but it does get narrower as you ascend and there is of course only one staircase for people going both ways, so it can get crowded in the summer. As we were driving up there with three very excited grandkids, I told my husband I probably couldn’t climb it. I did not have a problem with the 220 steps (each way) but was anticipating the closeness of the brick walls at the top. He reminded me that I used to do it with ease, but my brain said, “that was then.”

Then I remembered an obscure scripture from 2 Chronicles that encourages us to be strong and not give up:

2 Chronicles 15 (New International Version)

1 The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. 

2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 

3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 

4 But in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. 

5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 

6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 

7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 

Israel had walked away from the covenant with God and was full of false idols. The people had forgotten God and lived in great turmoil. There was no one to lead or teach them and they did not remember God’s love and divine mercy. Then the Spirit of God came to Azariah, who gave Asa the word of encouragement that if they were strong and did not give up, God would honor his part of the covenant even when though they had forgotten theirs.

Are you about to give up on something? Are you feeling weak and afraid today? Do you feel like you just can’t keep pushing that rock uphill? Read the full chapter to see what happens next and put yourself back in God’s hands.

As for me, I decided to at least try the climb, promising my brain that if panic started to settle in, I would turn around and go back down. I am glad to say that the risk was rewarded, and I made it to the top. The views were spectacular! I did not have one moment of discomfort on the climb … well, at least not from claustrophobia. Two Hundred and twenty steps straight up left me out of breath! But it was worth it because the view was breathtaking.

As you go about your day, remember these words: be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

Be Strong