When I Squeezed Pinky, All My Fears Went Away
When I was little, I was so afraid of the dark and Pinky, my pink stuffed cat, came to my rescue. Somehow squeezing Pinky made all my fears go away.
Kids are naturally fearful when the lights go off at bedtime, but this fear of mine had developed into a panic, and, I vividly remember when it all started.
A Horror Movie Fed My Fear
I was around seven year's old, and a babysitter had turned on a horror movie for me to watch while she visited with some friends who had stopped over our house.
One of the scenes from the movie was of a man getting stabbed in the back during the night hours, and... that's all I needed to see to instill a terrible fear in me that would last for years.
Whenever I had to do anything in the dark, I walked with my back up against the wall, fearful of getting stabbed in the back.
This fear of the dark went on until my husband put an end to it. Yup, that's right. I was newly married, and still walking with my back up against the wall, scared that the boogie-man was going to stab me in the back.
"What are you doing??" My husband asked me one night after I had gotten up to use the bathroom.
I explained to him what I was afraid of, and he told me to, "Stop being so silly."
"I'm not being silly, this is real!" I told him.
Thankfully, my fear of what was lurking in the dark is a distant memory now. But, you know what? We can go through life as if we are walking in the dark --Fearful and scared of where we are going and what is out there.
When I Walked in the Darkness, I Couldn't See What Was Ahead
Sometimes we can't get our bearings or perceive our surroundings because it is just TOO DARK and we can't see a clear path forward.
It's not only hard to see where you are going in the dark, but it's hard to have faith that you are heading in the right way when all around you is darkness.
This is where it gets beautiful --When our fear of the dark can be turned into love and trust.
Fear Had a Terrible Hold On Me
Fear binds a person, but love releases a person to move freely about.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love, 1 John 4:18, NIV.
We punish ourselves when we are fearful!
Dark times come rushing up on us as adults. Especially when we panic and can't see a straight way forward. What do we do? Where do we go? Whom do we call?
I Faced My Fears with a Heart of Faith
Fear, anxiety, worry, grief, concern, and discouragement take hold of us and bind us up, even torturing us, our stomach turns in knots and we worry ourselves sick about a situation that is totally out of our control, and then we have no peace.
We have to gather every ounce of faith we have and trust in the loving character of God.
We are familiar with the phrase, "walk by faith and not by sight," but living this out on a daily basis is a different story. When we believe in God, we have faith to do so.
When we believe that "all things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purposes," we have faith to do so, especially when things are going well.
But when we are called to "walk by faith and not by sight," in the middle of a perplexing situation and we can't see our way out of, it becomes difficult.
What has helped me put faith over fear and walk by faith and not by sight while facing the valley of darkness? The following verse has helped me:
"Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God," Isaiah 50:10, ESV.
Let him who walks in darkness and has no light --trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Let him who WALKS in DARKNESS and HAS NO LIGHT trust and rely upon his God.
The Love of God Took a Hold of Me
The ONLY thing we can do when we are in a dark, endless tunnel, and can't see the light at the end, is to trust in the NATURE and CHARACTER of God.
When we do so, the love of God is perfected in our hearts and we are able to move about freely, in spite of our dark surroundings --because HE is holding our hand.
"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you," Isaiah 41:13, NIV.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth," Psalm 121:1-2 KJV.
Let's Pray Together
Father in Heaven,
May we learn to trust in the goodness of your name and rely upon Your character in all situations we face in life. We are thankful for the peace that comes into our hearts when we allow You to take our hand and lead us through our darkest trials.
As we cast off anxiety and fear, would You fill us with Your love? And Your peace? Your word says You care for us with the deepest affection and watch over us very carefully. So, there is no need for us to fear, because there is no fear in love, and You love us deeply. Help us call this to mind when we are tempted to be fearful and doubt Your great love for us.
Lord Jesus, as we seek Your face, deliver us from all our fears.
In Your precious name, Amen.
© My Sun & Shade Ministries
