-Debra Hane
As a little girl, I remember lying in bed at night, gripped in fear that alligators were under my bed and would bite me if I tried to get out. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? But for me, the fear was quite real. Later I reasoned that if there were no alligators before I went to bed, they couldn’t just appear after the lights went out. Sometimes our minds easily wonder and imagine things that cause us to fear while other times our situations warrant fear. This reminds me of a night I was walking and saw a bear ahead and then noticed her cub in the tree nearby. My fear warned me to retreat with caution.
Fears, whether warranted or imagined, affect thoughts and actions. For some, courage trumps fear, maybe even resulting in acts of heroism. What does God want us to do with our fear? He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
I asked my grown children what songs they enjoyed singing when they were young and they mentioned, “Jesus Is Caring for You.” This song brought them great comfort. If I had known this song as a child, I would have fallen asleep in comfort rather than fear. Perhaps the faces of children (and even adults) who need this message come to mind. There may be times you need to remember, fear not, Jesus is caring for you.
This fall many children will learn the song “Jesus Is Caring for You” as a part of two lesson series in Good News Club®.
God: the One Who Knows My Heart includes lessons from the life of King David. Mephibosheth, the crippled grandson of David’s old enemy, had every reason to fear. But God used David to show him love and kindness.
God Rules: Be Strong includes lessons from the life of Daniel. God didn’t stop caring for Daniel even when it seemed like he would be eaten by lions. God was faithful. He cared for Daniel and helped Him stand strong and make the hard choice to continue to be faithful to God amid persecution and trouble.