FEAR OF THE DARK

As a teenager, I worked for a short time as a dishwasher in a small café. It was summer and I was staying with my sister and her family. My shift ended at ten P.M. Usually my sister would drive me home.

Sometimes she was unable to come for me and I would walk home. The darkness did not bother me. But as I neared her home, I would begin to be afraid. The closer I got, the more apprehension I felt, until I would be literally running to the door.

This fear I felt as a teenager reminds me of how we sometimes feel as we face the struggles of life. There are times when our fears overwhelm us. That’s when we must run to safety—the safety of God’s protection.

It’s good to realize He is with us, always.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

Water

A barren desert lies between two splendid mountain ranges in southern New Mexico. This desolate area is the home of magnificent sunsets, colorful cacti and exotic wild life. Although it is beautiful in its own way, the one dominating factor in this environment is the absence of water.

But in the midst of this desert lies the little city of Tularosa with its green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.

Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert.

Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14 (KJV)