The house guest

On January 28th Max Lucado's calendar says "Fear will always knock on your door. Just don't invite it in for dinner, and for heaven's sake don't offer it a bed for the night."

What great imagery. Fear has a way of becoming real and it takes on a personality of it's own. I can't tell you how many nights I have let a worry or a fear pester me. When that happens it is like having a person in the house with you nagging you and beating you down. What's worse is when it wakes you up in the middle of the night and won't let you get back to sleep. Then it keeps after you until you give in and let it have its way.

Do you know how many times Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid? He did it all the time. He wanted them to know that He was with them and God would not leave abandon them. That's good news for us too. When it seems like everyone else has left us, God is still at our side, silently standing watch.

I like the illustration I heard about the coming of age ritual of one of the Native American tribes from another era. They would take the young man out into the woods blindfolded and then leave him to survive the night. The sounds, the dark images that appeared through his mask would leave him frightened but he dare not speak out. Then as dawn approached he could remove the mask. And there within sight he would find his father or uncle at a safe distance away keeping watch. He was never alone and in any danger at all. So it is with us as God keeps watch. So don't let fear into your house. Tell it to god away because you've already got company.

Cal