I have become slightly addicted to Facebook reels of people cleaning and organizing their homes. I fell upon one such influencer who demonstrated an easy way to clean your oven. As this was a task that I have put off for…well…way too long, I decided to give it a try.
This project has scared me for a number of reasons. Of course, none valid. There are parts inside of the oven that I was concerned I might break. What if I rendered the entire thing unusable?
Despite this trepidation, I pushed on.
- I removed the racks. Whew.
- I covered all of the surfaces in baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap like the expert recommended. Second whew!
- I waited the prescribed time and then began scrubbing my little heart out. Scrub and wipe. Scrub and wipe. Particles were flying everywhere. Voila!
Feeling quite proud of myself, I looked around my kitchen only to find those very particles on my floor, refrigerator, and cabinets. Guess I got a little too scrubby! I wiped up the mess and grabbed the vacuum.
Seconds after turning it on, I noticed that it was not picking up anything. I realized that I hadn’t changed the bag in like…well…way too long. (Are you seeing a pattern?) Needless to say, it was filled to overflowing. I replaced the bag and voila!
When I shared this story with my daughter, she asked why I’d put off cleaning the oven for so long. I told her this:
“I was scared.”
“You’re scared of your oven??” (She may still be on the floor rolling in laughter and I suspect I shall never live this down. I see my tombstone: “Here lies Jennifer. She was scared of her oven!”)
Fear. Little word. Big impact. Did you know that fear is mentioned 365 times in the Bible? God knew that we would experience this emotion and He provided the antidote in His Word.
Did you also know that the opposite of fear is not courage? It’s faith. Specifically, faith in God and His promises to protect us, provide for us, and help us through whatever storm we face each day. While cleaning an oven is not necessarily a major storm, it was a source of fear for me and I needed God’s help to overcome it.
We are all going to face a storm or two in our lives. Despite us craving otherwise, earth is not heaven and never will be. However, no matter what we’re facing, our Father in heaven promises that He will be there for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). With God on our side, what or who do we have to be afraid of? (Romans 8:31-39)
Fear is designed to keep us from our God-given purpose. The enemy would like nothing better than for us to cower in the corner, living a small life. But if we want to have a life that glorifies God and blesses others, then we must fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). We have to clap back at the devil and declare the promises of God over our lives.
You cannot face your giant(s) with your mouth closed. Instead of speaking words of fear (“I’m scared of my oven”), speak words of faith (“I can do all things through Christ who is my strength.”)
Then take a step in faith, even if it’s a baby step and forge ahead.
While my oven is not spotless (do not believe everything you see on the internet), it is light years better than it was. I also learned a few valuable lessons:
- Clean your oven after every spill.
- Don’t wait (ahem) three years to give it a thorough cleaning.
- Don’t tell your kids you’re afraid of your oven.
All kidding aside, you are called to do remarkable things. Don’t let fear stop you from being all God has planned for you.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand’” (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV).