It was an honest question, not entirely from out of the blue. Yet, it got me to thinking, maybe I'm scared, too.
"Why am
I still scared of that dead man Papa?”
The other day on our way home
from the airport, we stopped at a restaurant. As we walked in, we passed a
motorcycle that had a plastic skeleton, attached as if a passenger, on the back
of the seat.
Considering the season, it’s
not uncommon to see ghouls and goblins put on display.
I noticed it, but not much
more.
My granddaughter however, did
much more. She grabbed my hand, “He’s looking at me, Papa.” As we neared the
entrance, she looked back and squeezed my hand tighter. Her voice got squeaky
when she said, “Papa, why is he still
looking right at me?”
Later that night after we had
gotten home, she brought it up again, “Why am I still scared of that dead man
Papa?”
I thought about that. Why am I still afraid of the dead man? I
am too, I suppose.
Are you…afraid of what’s dead?
It’s a weird question, I know, but are you—afraid of the dead man?
Afraid of what stares you down
and keeps you up at night—the dwindling bank account, the doctor’s report, the
lump, the anger, the addiction, the crumbling marriage, being alone...the
scars—inside and out.
Fear stops us dead in our
tracks.
Yet I know, my Redeemer lives.
How do I know?
Because, while I tried to think
of an answer for my precious granddaughter, I heard—well, actually it’s more
like, I felt—His Words…
Fear
not, for I AM with you
I asked her, “If you’re walking
down a dark alley by yourself, would you be scared?”
Her eyes got big. She swallowed
hard and blinked a time or two. “Y-yes”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because—” she made a nervous
little giggle—“I’d be all alone.”
“Okay, what if you were with
your daddy, holding his hand?”
“Nope” she said without
hesitation.
“Why?” I asked, again. “You’d
still be in the dark, spooky, creepy,
alley.”
She didn’t even blink. “Because,
I’d be with my daddy”
I smiled. “And that’s how it
is. You’re never alone. Your Father God is with you—always. You don’t have to
be afraid of anything.”
“Not even the dead man?”
“Especially not even the dead man.”
She smiled, too.
What are you scared of? Drop me a line and let me know how I can pray for you to...
Be Courageous, you're not alone.
Doug
dougspurling@aol.com
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.’
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.’
Be
strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is
with you wherever you go."
Romans 8:31
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise-- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:11
in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
Isaiah 51:12
"I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise-- in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:11
in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
Isaiah 51:12
"I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?