What Do You Fear?
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. – Matthew 14:2 – 27
The disciples were tired; they had just spent a long day with Jesus. He sent them out on a boat by themselves as He stayed behind to talk with His Father. The winds came up, the boat rocked; they saw someone coming towards them. They were afraid.
When I was a young boy we lived in a small house. I had to sleep in the upstairs room with my two brothers. The attic was unfinished, with the exception of some insulation tacked between the rafters. It was a great place for us boys. We could rough house, throw things and not worry about putting holes in the wall (there was no wall) or knocking down pictures. Our attic room became a fort, a castle, even Beaver Cleaver’s bedroom – if we could imagine it – it was.
At night the street light shone brightly through the curtain-less window. The shadows cast on the crinkled insulation paper formed images. Most nights we would lie awake and find ships sailing, airplanes flying or horses galloping across the ceiling. However, after watching “Wizard of Oz,” the shadows were witches laughing, monkeys flying and houses falling. I “cried out in fear.”
When I was older I would often wake up in the middle of the night with doubts about the future – would there be enough money for bills? Did I make the right decision for my children? Will my health improve? These fears closed over me leaving me stressed, weak and I “cried out in fear.”
Fears subsided. When I was a child, Mom would wrap her arms around me – hug me, rock me and calm me. Dad would turn on the lights and viola – witches, monkeys and houses would disappear.
When I was older, Bunny would wrap her arms around me – hug me, rock me, consol me. She would turn on the lights viola – the fear would be replaced by confidence, plans, and calm. Discussions in the light were more decisive and positive than wallowing in the doubt of night.
Today I still have fears – concerns about the future, apprehensions about job performance, and second guessing decisions still plague my nights. No longer is Mom there to comfort, no longer does Bunny reach out to assure that all will be OK.
Yes, they may be gone, but the One who is faithful is still with me – my Heavenly Father. I turn on the lights and kneel in prayer – arguing, yelling, and beseeching Him to remove my fears. He does. I am filled with His peace as a plan is made, a decision affirmed or calmness in the heart descends. I fall asleep in His arms – hugged and loved by Him who loves and hugs us all.
What do you fear?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Be with us now, give us your peace. In Your name we pray.
Amen
The disciples were tired; they had just spent a long day with Jesus. He sent them out on a boat by themselves as He stayed behind to talk with His Father. The winds came up, the boat rocked; they saw someone coming towards them. They were afraid.
When I was a young boy we lived in a small house. I had to sleep in the upstairs room with my two brothers. The attic was unfinished, with the exception of some insulation tacked between the rafters. It was a great place for us boys. We could rough house, throw things and not worry about putting holes in the wall (there was no wall) or knocking down pictures. Our attic room became a fort, a castle, even Beaver Cleaver’s bedroom – if we could imagine it – it was.
At night the street light shone brightly through the curtain-less window. The shadows cast on the crinkled insulation paper formed images. Most nights we would lie awake and find ships sailing, airplanes flying or horses galloping across the ceiling. However, after watching “Wizard of Oz,” the shadows were witches laughing, monkeys flying and houses falling. I “cried out in fear.”
When I was older I would often wake up in the middle of the night with doubts about the future – would there be enough money for bills? Did I make the right decision for my children? Will my health improve? These fears closed over me leaving me stressed, weak and I “cried out in fear.”
Fears subsided. When I was a child, Mom would wrap her arms around me – hug me, rock me and calm me. Dad would turn on the lights and viola – witches, monkeys and houses would disappear.
When I was older, Bunny would wrap her arms around me – hug me, rock me, consol me. She would turn on the lights viola – the fear would be replaced by confidence, plans, and calm. Discussions in the light were more decisive and positive than wallowing in the doubt of night.
Today I still have fears – concerns about the future, apprehensions about job performance, and second guessing decisions still plague my nights. No longer is Mom there to comfort, no longer does Bunny reach out to assure that all will be OK.
Yes, they may be gone, but the One who is faithful is still with me – my Heavenly Father. I turn on the lights and kneel in prayer – arguing, yelling, and beseeching Him to remove my fears. He does. I am filled with His peace as a plan is made, a decision affirmed or calmness in the heart descends. I fall asleep in His arms – hugged and loved by Him who loves and hugs us all.
What do you fear?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Be with us now, give us your peace. In Your name we pray.
Amen