proceed with faith
For several weeks now, our 3 year old daughter has been going through a super fun phase of waking us in the middle of the night, sometimes 2 or 3 times in one night. The poor little thing tells us it’s because she’s scared. We have been doing our best to work through it with her… night lights, praying aloud over her, proclaiming safety and comfort over her, assuring her that monsters aren’t real and that we are there with her to keep her safe and, more importantly, so is Jesus! She will even repeat after us, “Jesus will keep me safe.” And yet all these well intended efforts have not succeeded. We are very tired.
My mother-in-law took notice to my tired appearance the other day and asked how it was going. Learning that things still hadn’t improved, she shared that she used to have to check my husband's bedroom for monsters at bedtime to put him at ease when he was little. I honestly didn’t have much hope that her subtle suggestion would actually do the trick, because nothing else had worked thus far, so I mentally archived it.
After another week or so of sleepless nights, I suddenly recalled her comments and thought, why not give it a try?! So, the other night I kicked my “acting skills" into high gear and searched around the room as Cecelia watched me check behind the curtains, under the bed, behind the chair, in the closet, and in all of the dark corners… and nope, no monsters were to be found! She giggled with approval and kissed me goodnight while I braced myself for yet another 2am sleep interruption, but, much to my surprise, it actually worked! Praise be to God (or my MIL)!
It later occurred to me, in the midst of some adult conversation regarding fear, that sometimes it takes the help of someone else to physically show us and prove to us that our fear is unfounded to ultimately give us the confidence and security we need to proceed with faith.
Friends, the enemy is at work. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and often times that comes by way of negative thoughts, self doubt, and yep you guessed it, FEAR… no matter your level of success, no matter your social status, no matter how far along you are in your faith walk - the enemy is at work, and it seems more-so than ever.
This is why it is so incredibly important to surround yourself with a tribe of people who will stand beside you, and maybe sometimes in front of you, to stop you in your tracks, point out the lies to you, and proclaim that your fear, whatever may be the cause, is not of the Lord. He has come so that you may have life, and have it to the full. Your identity is in Him. He is your provider - your comforter. He is your ultimate source of value. And, listen up, you have so. much. value... You are a child of God. Don’t you ever forget that!
And despite my new trick unfortunately only working for a measly two nights (pray for me), I am reminded that he may only give us what we need in that moment, even if it doesn’t feel like much to us. And sometimes He uses our ugly moments of frustration to remind us of what is always good, reliable, and full of hope. I wish it was a consistent good night’s rest, but I suppose I can settle for resting in His truth until that day comes.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
