Bump in the Night

“You gotta stop this,” I said to my eight-year-old daughter. She was crying, I suspected because of the storm outside. “What's wrong?” I asked.

“There are noises outside.”

“Seriously?”

She started crying again. Now, before I get nominated for the worst mother of the year award, let me share some back story. My daughter has been struggling with stinking thinking for a few weeks. I had a stay in the hospital, and ever since then, she has started thinking about me not being here. The fear of losing me has now escalated into fear of storms and fire, and now apparently noises outside. We studied the armor of God last week, and just the other day we meditated on Philippians 4:8 and made colorful posters of each of the words so we could be reminded what we should be thinking. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Now I lie on the sofa staring at these striking works of art on the wall, wondering why my nap was interrupted by her irrational fear of a noise outside which I am pretty sure was just a motorcycle.

“Aaaah!” I shouted. “I hear a noise; it sounds like… the light bill!”

“Huh?” she said, sniffling.

“Oh no! There’s another one! It... it sounds like the car needing more gas! Aaaaahh!”

“Mama!” she laughed as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

“O ye of little faith,” I said. “You know that scripture and where it comes from. Where is your faith? Are you going to be afraid of every weapon that is formed against you, or are you going to make a decision not to fear, as it tells you 365 times in scripture, one for each day of the year? When you know God is with you, there is no need to be afraid of everything that goes bump in the night; in fact, if the boogie man taps you on the shoulder, waking you up, and says, “Boo!” you should turn over and tell him to get back under the bed because you've got to get up early. Fear is a decision, and at this point you are deciding to fear. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” God has given you a way out; you have the spiritual weapons of warfare, you have His Holy Word, and ultimately you walk with God... so what's the problem?”

They had been walking around with God all day, watching Him perform miracle after miracle. Now, God made low; God in human form, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, was on the stormy sea with them, in a boat. “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” the disciples shouted to wake Jesus. “Why are you fearful? O ye of little faith,” Jesus said. He was not rebuking His friends, only their fear and unbelief. They had no excuse to be filled with fear because of a storm. They had not only witnessed His great power and authority, but they had also seen great examples of faith in Jesus from people like the Roman Centurion along the way. They had every reason to believe, yet they were making a conscious decision to give in to fear. “Then Jesus arose and rebuked the winds and the waves, and there was a great calm. So, the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the waves obey Him’” (Matthew 8:5-13, 23-27).

There comes a time in every believer's life when they must decide to turn away from fear and doubt. We have evidence of God’s great power and authority; we have seen great examples of faith in Jesus from people around us. We have an arsenal of spiritual weapons to fight this fight of faith and stand against the devil and his lies. Stinking thinking has no place in the life of a believer. Indeed, weapons will form, but they will not prosper. Negative thoughts will arise, but they will not consume or dominate those who have the mind of Christ. But it is your decision. Decide today who you will listen to: the enemy whose job it is to steal, kill, and destroy, or Jesus Christ, who walks with you, who speaks, and even the winds and the waves obey.

Scripture References: Isaiah 54:17, Matthew 8:5-13, 23-27, John 10:10, Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 2:5, 4:8, Hebrews 12:2-3, James 4:7, 1 Timothy 6:12