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.
Psalm 91:5-6
Not long after my head hit the pillow, I was startled by a loud noise. I lifted my head to free both ears in order to listen for a repeat of that sound.
“What was that?” I said in a loud alarming whisper to my husband, who was already on his way to dreamland for the night.
Bump..bump…thump!
“There it is again!”
We were not alone in the house. I could hear my folks in the room directly below us were fast asleep, snoring, as if they were having a conversation all of their own. Perhaps my brother in the basement was making the noise. But that noise? It sounded like someone was either breaking in, or brother was moving some major furniture downstairs.
My quick thinking husband said, “It’s got to be an animal!”
He immediately grabbed the flashlight by the bed and headed down the stairs as I followed quickly close behind him. He didn’t hesitate stepping out on the porch with his flashlight in hand, shining the light in the direction of the wooden garbage enclosure. I followed up with the floodlights on the house. Our fears gave way to a childlike delight as we watched a bear rocking the wooden garbage bin back and forth against the house. He didn’t stay long having us now in his sights. We decided it was time to head back to bed, stopping first at the top of the basement stairs to let brother know that we had just seen a bear. He said he thought we were making all the noise. I chuckled and as we headed back to bed.
An hour later, we heard it again. We grabbed our flashlight and quickly headed downstairs just as brother was racing up the stairs from the basement. We were now all armed with our lights… flashlight, floodlights, and camera light.
It helps to have a light when things go bump in the night. God knew we would have times when we would need a light in the dark. Without a light, we can become fearful. God’s Word tells us repeatedly to “fear not.” Jesus Himself came to be the light of the world and lead us out of darkness. His Word is both a light and a lamp for our feet. Next time you have trouble in the night, or a circumstance that brings night to the soul, look for the light and allow God, who is light, to cast out all fear. For those of us in Christ, the light is always on, but it is important to stay plugged into the source.
May you find yourself embraced by God’s love today, so filled with God’s light and presence that you burn brighter and brighter each day, bringing a childlike delight to your soul.
Joshua 1:9; 2 Samuel 22:29; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 119:105; John 1:5; John 8:12, John 14:27; 1 John 4:18,
