Friday, October 30, 2015

Why am I still scared of that dead man Papa?




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 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?