This Christian Life

Light in the Darkness

NOTE: This was written by my sister, and I thought it is a beautifully written piece on fear and God’s provisions.

Joshua is going through a phase of fearfulness. Where he used to go with bravery and confidence, he is now convinced there are monsters. At first, I dismissed his fears by saying, “There’s no monsters in the house, Josh!” This type of response did not calm his fears; in fact, he only seemed to grow more afraid and need my help even more. “No, Mom, I’m so afraid!” Lately, I’ve tried a different approach. We’ve named the monsters and work together to overcome his fears. So, in response to the greasy-garage monster, we walk into the garage hand-in-hand chanting, “Go away greasy-garage monster, we’re not afraid of you. Go away greasy-garage monster, we’re not afraid of you.” And with equal bravery we face the mudroom monster, playroom monster, shadow-on-the-wall monster, and dark-bathroom monster. Slowly, he’s gaining his confidence back and is able to chant on his own while I stand back up in the doorway.

I find that his childhood fears mirror my own at times. My fears may be different but the chant sounds similar—my moment to moment “breath prayers” uttered to my Father: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” I’ve discovered that the shadows still lurk at times in my life, and that pretending they don’t exist only makes them loom larger. As an ordinary man-turned-hero of long ago wrote, “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we do not fear, even though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though it’s waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling….Be still and know that I am God.”

Just as I calm Joshua’s fears—“I am here, son. We will overcome your fear of the greasy-garage monster.” My Father whispers, “Daughter, do not fear. Though you do not know what tomorrow brings. Though you ache for your loved ones far away. Though you do not know how you will make it through to the next paycheck. Be still and know that I am God.”