"Me: Okay, God, here's the thing. I'm scared. I'm trying not to be, but I am.
God: I know. Want to talk about it?
Me: Do we need to? I mean, you already know.
God: Let's talk about it anyway... We've done this before.
God: *waiting patiently, unhurried, undistracted, never annoyed.
Me: Okay. So, I'm afraid I'll do everything I can to protect my family and it won't be enough. I'm afraid of someone I love dying. I'm afraid the world won't go back to what it was before. I'm afraid my life is always going to feel a little bit unsettled.
God: Anything else?
Me: EVERYTHING ELSE.
God: Remember how your son woke up the other night and came running down the hall to your bedroom?
Me: Yes.
God: You were still awake, so when you heard him running, you started calling out to him before he even got to you... remember? Do you remember what you called out to him?
Me: I said, "You're okay! You're okay! You're okay! I'm here."
God: Why did you call to him? Why didn't you just wait for him to get to your room?
Me: Because I wanted him to know that I was awake, and I heard him, and he didn't have to be afraid until he reached the end of the dark hallway.
God: Exactly. I hear you, my child. I hear your thoughts racing like feet down the dark hallway. There's an other side to all of this. I'm there already. I've seen the end of it. And I want you to know right here as you walk through it all, you're okay. I haven't gone to sleep, and I won't.
Me: *crying. Can we sit together awhile? Can we just sit here a minute before I go back to facing it all?
God: There's nothing I'd love more."
I found this on Facebook and love this analogy! Even as an adult I picture myself sitting with God. Sometimes at night I visualize Him sitting on the edge of my bed just watching over me. It is amazing how that vision makes me feel so much better! Imagine God saying Deuteronomy 31: 8 to you, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” One of my favorite scriptures tells me that even through bad things God will bring good for me because I love Him. Even in this crazy world, God will bring good. Romans 8: 28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
God created us and formed us. We are His! Isaiah 43:1, "“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." But notice the first part of that sentence - God commands us not to fear! “Fear not” is used at least 80 times in the Bible probably because God knew this would be a big issue for us and Satan will always use it to make us feel hopeless!
1 John 4: 18, "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." God is perfect and God is love. The closer we are to God, the less power fear has on us. That is why I feel comforted when I talk to Him and picture myself sitting with Him.
Someone said to me yesterday, if you have a heavy heart you are sinning. Fear has no place in the heart or mind of a believer. I know what they were saying but I also know that I am human and there are times that I have fear. Even Jesus himself experienced fear to the point of sweating blood, so God understands fear is natural. All we can do is to ask God to continue increasing our trust and faith. He will do that. By focusing on Him, and believing that I am His child, my focus will shift from fear to faith.