Kelly J. asked the kids in the Children & Worship room this past Sunday to name some of the things that they are afraid of. Some kids said spiders, others said spider webs, and some said that they weren’t afraid of anything. Kelly then asked them if they were afraid of the dark, and everybody shook their head “Yes”, except for Ella. Ella shook her head “No”, and said in a very quiet voice, “It is not the dark that we are afraid of, but what could be hiding in it”, and this surprised me as I thought to myself, “What wise words coming from a child.”
When I think of darkness, I think of evil, but when Ella stated that we are not afraid of the dark, but what could be hiding in it, I had to stop and think to myself, “She’s right!” “It is not the dark that is scary or evil, but what could be hiding there.” Have you ever been in the dark and had a scary feeling wash over you all of the sudden, so much so that you felt like you had to run? I can remember feeling like that as a child when I had to go into the basement alone. Now, as an adult there are things that scare me more, such as the things talked about in Ephesians 6:12, that says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”, but as we wrestle with these things, I think that it is important to keep in mind God’s word from John 1:5 that says, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
With that being said, there is no reason to be scared of the dark, or what could be hiding there because “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91), and “Surely, He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. (Psalms 91:3-7)
Prayer
Father thank you for your promise that the darkness will not overcome us. No matter what that darkness may be Abba, from the forces of evil, to our own imaginations, thank you for reminding us that you are our shield and our protection. Thank you also for reminding us of this through the words of a young child whose heart is pure and open to hearing your voice. We are so grateful for all of the ways that you speak, even through the mouths of babes. Father help us to pay attention, listen, and keep our eyes focused on You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen