Hope for Scaredy-cats

Well, Happy Halloween. While I certainly am never one to turn away candy, I must admit Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays. I'm somewhat of a scaredy-cat, and all the frights and scares are not my thing. Neither are horror movies or scary stories around the campfire. Add rollercoasters and any type of thrill ride to that list. It may be for some people, but fear is not something I go looking for.

Though I may not go looking for it, fear has a way of finding me and, for that matter, all of us. Whether it be the news, personal concerns, family matters, finances, or health worries, it seems like fear has a way of creeping into my life daily. Who needs Halloween when there are "wars and rumors of war" all around us?

I find it comforting, though, that the Bible acknowledges that the world we live in often does elicit fear. And it talks about it often. A quick word search reveals that the words "fear" and "afraid" are used almost 500 times in our Bibles. In fact, "do not be afraid" is one of Jesus's most often repeated lines. Fear is real.

I wish I could say having faith removes all fear. I can't say that, but I can say that faith can help us in not allowing fear to overwhelm or control us. Here are a few of those Scriptures that might help:

Psalm 23:4 (NIV) — "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

God walks with us through the scary stuff. His presence and protection keep us moving forward even when we're afraid.

1 John 4:18 (NIV) — "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Knowing we are loved by God reminds us that in all things he is working for our best. That perfect love God has for us pushes fear aside, keeping it from dominating our thoughts.

Psalm 118:6 (NIV) — "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

When others oppose us and ridicule us, we know that God will provide strength for the trial. When we know God is on our side, all fears melt away. Even if our life is at stake, our hope of eternal life mitigates our fear.

Luke 12:7 (NIV) — "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

When you are afraid, take comfort in knowing that God knows all the details of your life and values you more than you can know.

The world can be a frightening place—not just on Halloween, but every day. Yet we don't have to let fear win. Through faith in our Almighty God, we can choose courage over panic, hope over despair, and trust over worry. God's love, protection, and strength are greater than anything we fear.

Glow In the Dark Believers

Over the past few weeks, I've been preaching through 1 John—a brief but powerful letter the apostle John wrote in his later years. His audience faced confusion from false teachers who were distorting essential Christian truths. One particularly dangerous idea suggested that knowing God had nothing to do with how we actually lived.

At first glance, this seems absurd. But is it really so far-fetched?

Consider how often we treat Christian practices—church attendance, Bible reading, prayer—as the goal itself rather than as means to genuine transformation. I catch myself doing this. The rituals become my religion instead of pathways to change. Craig Groeschel captured this tension perfectly in his book title: The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist. It's entirely possible to maintain all the outward Christian activities while remaining spiritually unchanged.

This disconnect likely plagued John's original readers. It certainly affects us today—perhaps even you and me.

John's response centers on a powerful image: God is Light. Those who truly know Him walk in that light, and walking in light produces visible effects. We become light-bearers ourselves. Drawing near to God's brilliance drives out our inner darkness, gradually transforming us to reflect His purity and glory.

This reminds me of childhood glow-in-the-dark toys—those treasures I'd find in cereal boxes. (Their disappearance from cereal boxes saddens me, but I digress.) I'd rip open the package and rush to the nearest lamp, holding the toy as close to the bulb as possible. Then I would run to the nearest closet, close the door and turn off the lights and voilà—the object glowed. The principle was simple: these objects only glowed after absorbing light. Exposure transformed them from lightless plastic into luminous beacons.

The same principle governs our spiritual lives. To bear God's light, I must stay close to Him. I must dwell in His presence. Without proximity to the Light, I have no capacity to shine.

Perhaps this offers a better framework for understanding Christian practices—not as religious obligations to check off, but as opportunities to draw near the source. I've heard it expressed this way: Don't read Scripture merely for information; read it for transformation.

Otherwise, we miss the point entirely. We attend church but leave unchanged. We read our Bibles while remaining in darkness. We pray without experiencing God's warmth. This path of least resistance may feel easier, but it's fundamentally wrong.

My prayer for you is simple: May God's Light penetrate your life, dispelling whatever darkness troubles you. May His brilliance transform you so completely that others see the unmistakable glow of someone changed by the greatest Light of all.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7, NIV)