Oh man! My kids can tell you without any question that I am afraid of bats and rats. Bats are just flying rats, really. And there is no such thing as mice. They are all rats. I am not just a little scared either….legit phobia. Ugh! But Halloween is the holiday where we celebrate all thing scary and spooky. Lots of people really love scary movies and haunted houses. I think most of us just think it’s fun to dress up and eat candy. I also think most of us have something that really does scare us.
There was a time in my life where I lived in fear–always anticipating the worst care scenario to come true, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. And then it happened. The worst thing I could have dreamed of at that time in my life actually happened. Do you know what happened next? The best thing that ever happened to me. Something I had been waiting on and praying to God for so many years happened seven days after the worst thing that ever happened to me. My father committed suicide, and one week later I found out I was pregnant after years of trying.
I guess I could have been mad at God. I could have questioned His divine timeline. But during that emotional roller coaster, all I could feel was His unconditional love and mercy. He knew what was coming all along. He knew what laid around the corner, and He was prepared to wrap me in His big, strong arms, and hold me through it. He knew what I needed, when I needed it, long before I could have ever known.
There are two places in scripture that really helped me during this time. The first is from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
The second is from Romans 8: 38-39: ” For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Both of these are so true! In this world, there will be trouble, pain, suffering, and mourning. But through the hope of Jesus, we don’t have to be afraid of any of it! Hard times don’t last forever, good times will come again, laughter is sweeter because of the tears, and nothing can ever take us so far away from God that He cannot reach us with His mercy, grace, and love!
This Halloween, think about the security you can have because of Jesus Christ. There is nothing of which you have to be afraid! Nothing! There is nothing in this world that can take His peace away from you, no matter the circumstances. The key is to keep your eyes and heart focused on Him and to trust His timing and His plans. They are always better than yours!
Y’all be safe tonight! Indulge a little in your favorite candy, and have a very Happy Halloween!