Why fear?

I remember when my son was younger and anxiously watching him daringly jump off furniture or run towards the ocean and one time even put his hand into a snake's cage at a pet store. When we suspected it was time for him to move into his own room with his own big boy bed, we were reluctant to make the transition. Not only was he used to rooming with his sister, but we had recently moved into a new home where their rooms were further from our room. But he really surprised us at how enthusiastic he was about the change. He slept in his own bed for a while with ease. I began to take pride in saying that my boy was fearless.

But as he got older, he started getting scared of the "monsters in his closet". Or he would come out of his room, each time with a different ailment. Our favorite was when he complained of the "booger in his ear".  Now we kinda have gotten used to the bed time ritual consisting of him coming out of the room at least three or four times and yelling "I'm scared" about two or three times before he actually gets settled down. Sometimes if I'm not ready to go to my room after I put him to bed, I will sit on the couch and watch tv. I would be able to see him and he can see me and he would still say that he's scared.

 I would ask him, "David why are you afraid? I am here with you. I was here with you last night and you were ok, right?  I hear you, I can even see you and I'm just a few steps away. When have you called and I didn't come?"  I oftentimes go into the closet and close the doors to reassure him that there are no monsters.  Then I realized that's how God comforts us and reassures us when we're afraid.  Fear is my biggest obstacle. I think about it often and wonder why I struggle with it in so many areas of my life and sometimes it seems to mature instead of being conquered. To tell you the truth it's a hindrance, it's annoying and I hate it.  For a moment, I realized that David was having the same experience I seem to have (way too often), just on the level of a three year old.  We as adults can take monsters in closets very lightly but for a person who has only been here on this earth for three years, it can be terrifying. So what would any parent who loves their son do? Hold him tight, give him a few kisses, pray, sing songs, tuck him in tightly, etc. But definitely let him know that he is not alone.

I never used to understand the phrase "God is with me". I used to think what is the point of God being with me if sometimes something bad happens anyway?  But I've learned and am still learning that for 1. God doens't make bad things happen. People who have free will in a sinful world makes bad things happen. (DON'T EAT THE FRUIT! NOOOOOO...!!!) and 2. when God is with you, even when bad things happen, He is able to turn a bad situation into something beautiful. Seriously that's what he does and He's excellent at it. Lastly, #3. for every time something bad happens, I'm extremely confident there are 100 times that something could've gone wrong but God and through His angles provided protection and many times we don't even notice. God is with us.

So I say all of this because just as we hold our our children and will do anything to protect them from harm, God does the same for us. And at times when it may appear to our children like we are "harming" them (i.e. discipline),  but it's only because we are encouraging growth and maturity. God does the same for us. So why fear? Why fear when He hears us? He sees us. He's just a few steps away. When have we called and He didn't come? Look closely at your life and you will see that He was always there and if you can't see Him ask Him to open up your eyes. So that we will extinguish fear, embrace His love and defeat those invisible monsters in our closet.

~So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." ~Isaiah 41:10

~The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing ~Zephaniah 3:17

~The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? ~Psalm 27:1

~As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. ~Joshua 1:5