Afraid of the dark?

When I was a kid I was really afraid of the dark. I used to have really bad nightmares and I would lie awake scared to go to sleep because I didn’t want to have another one. The nightmares weren’t usually about monsters or things that go bump in the night but they were about real people who would try to hurt me and my family. So I would always sleep with a light on because I was afraid that someone might be hiding in the darkness of my room.

When I was a teenager I still had these nightmares though not as frequent. At the age of fourteen, I gave my heart and life to the Lord. I asked my Savior to take those nightmares away and He did. He was the only one who was able to help me. I had told my parents but they could never really do much for me. It was such a blessing to be able to sleep peacefully at night. The Lord can do all things, so what is it for Him to take care of a little child who is afraid of the dark.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” Also in Matthew 10:29-31 it says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” The Lord Jesus says that the very hairs of our head are numbered, what a wondrous thought. If the Lord took the time to know how many hairs we have on our head don’t you think if you call on Him for help He will take the time to answer your prayer? If not even a little bird falls to the ground without God knowing about it, then when we are scared God knows all about it. He said to fear not we are worth more than many sparrows to Him. He is the very one who fashioned us and made us in His image.

I also read a story of a little girl who was so afraid of the dark that she could hardly sleep at night. She would see shadows and hear noises in her room at night and think it was monsters. She would put the covers over her head and lie awake scared to that if she went to sleep they would get her. Her Mother one night read to her out of the Bible, the story of Daniel and how God protected him. Daniel was thrown into the lions den where it was dark because he would not stop praying to his God. But God protected him and sent His angel to shut the lion’s mouths and that whole night that Daniel was in there the lions did not touch him. The Mother told her daughter that Daniel may have been a little scared but more than anything Daniel knew and believed that His God was all powerful and that He was able to deliver him. The little girl went to bed that night praying that God would protect her like He did Daniel. She prayed that God would show her His angels that He had sent to watch over her. When her Mother left the room and switched off the light she saw strong looking men with swords standing all around her bed. She knew God had answered her prayer. For the first time in a long time she was able to sleep peacefully without any covers over her head because she knew she could trust God to take care of her.

I wanted to share these stories, because I recently heard that a little boy I know and love very much is scared of the dark. I wanted to share with Him what God did for people like Daniel, the little girl and me, so he would know that God can and will do the same for him. God is bigger than anything that we can or cannot see and if we are in the hollow of his big hand we have nothing to fear. Sometimes I wonder why God would take time out of His busy schedule to come and help me but He does. There has never been a time when I needed help that He didn’t come to my rescue. He can do the same for you if you’ll only ask Him to. So go ahead ask Him, He stands ready to prove to you that the God of Daniel still LIVES and REIGNS today.