Being fearful of the dark is a common phobia in little children. Lights go out. Nerves start. Thoughts run wild. What do you do when you have a child afraid of the dark?

You turn on the light, right?

You show them the room. You open their closet. You look under their bed. You arm them with the knowledge and truth that there is nothing to harm them. Maybe you even add a nightlight to help assuage their fears.

While a variety of fears can be common for children, can adults struggle with fear as well?  You bet we can!  Fear can creep into upon our lives, even as believers.  The other week, something came up with one of my kids – a concern that warranted a call for advice, monitoring, and follow-up.  I was tempted to fear many times.  But each time, I had to reign in my thoughts and focus more on God than on the issue at hand. 

In the middle of any fearful situation (whether long-term or short-term), we need to control the thoughts in our heads.  Sure, we can take the necessary actions, but what about our thoughts? I was tempted to ask multiple times, “What if we can’t figure it out? What if this doesn’t end?” 

What if… What if… What if…

But then I had to reframe and think, “Even if we have to deal at length with this, God is still faithful.  He is still good.  God will still provide direction.”

I had to turn on the proverbial light and add truth to my thoughts.  God is on the throne.  He does not sleep, nor slumber (Ps 121:3-4).  He will take care of me, of my family.  He will provide what is needed.  He will give direction.  Even in trials and suffering, He is present.  And when I would do this – shining the light of truth into the darkness, countering my fear with the knowledge of who God is – immediately, peace would fill my thoughts.

I’ve been thinking a lot about fear lately – how it can intrude (and even invade) upon our lives. And in the era in which we live, there can be a lot out there that can cause us to fear. So, let’s take a look at what God says about fear in His Word.

Truths about God and truths from His Word are the light we need to face the darkness.  Knowing and reminding ourselves of who God is, of what He can do and of the hope we have in Christ is important for every believer as we deal with fear at different levels.

Next week, I’ll share with you one mindset change we can make when we are encountering fear. Meanwhile, what area of your life needs to have the light turned on? What fear needs to be extinguished like darkness when the light fills a room?

What do you say?  Let’s start flipping some switches!  God is faithful.

All for Jesus,
Kristen

>> Next Post:  A Mindset Change to Battle Fear