Scared of Monsters? Fear Not.

Read This: “Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger; your rod and your staff reassure me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Think: Spiders and broomsticks and bats, oh my! Halloween is the time of year it’s fun to get scared. Spooky pumpkins and creepy costumes are all just part of the season. And it’s fun because we know it’s pretend—the fake blood washes off, the vampire teeth come out, and the eyeballs in the punch bowl turn out to be candy. The lights come on and the party is over.

Unfortunately we know all too well life is full of real monsters that are neither fun nor for pretend. Lurking in the shadows at the dawn of each day is potential for bad news. Life in a fallen world is risky. We fear the unknown. We fear disasters. We fear illness and death. We fear the loss of income. We fear betrayal. In a world full of heart breaking stories it can be tempting to question the goodness of God.

But God doesn’t promise us we’ll never get hurt in this life. On the contrary Jesus said, “In this world you have trouble and suffering” (Joh 16:33). Being Christians doesn’t grant us immunity to pain, but it does mean God is there to guide us through our suffering. Isaiah 43:2-3 says, “When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer.” He promises he will come when we call and never leave us no matter how rough the road gets. He goes before us, stands beside, and has our back.

We may find ourselves in scary situations, but we don’t have to be afraid. In its entirety John 16:33 reads, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.”

Ask: What do you fear most? How can God’s truth help you break free of that specific fear?

Pray: Be honest with God about your fears. Ask him to help you trust him more in the areas you struggle with. Remember God’s goodness and faithfulness to you in the past and thank him for it.