Did you dress up last week? I seriously didn’t even want to go there. But lots of my precious friends did. So we had to have a few heart-to-hearts about it ahead of time. While I realize lots of people think “scary” – scary movies, scary costumes, scary books, scary anything- is “just for fun” (yes, I’m quoting some of my own sweet peeps), I made it absolutely clear to my young friends that nothing scary, dark, or evil was getting in my car. When darkness is glorified and we are seduced into thinking we can play with it, we open the door…and fear walks in.
So I don’t play with dark, evil, or scary. I don’t read it, I don’t watch it on TV, and I don’t take it in my car “for fun.” No exceptions, no concessions. I do not do fear.
Our Heavenly Father, over and over, reaches out to say, “Do not fear!” Sometimes fears and anxious thoughts creep up on us; but sometimes fear is invited in. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). So why would I resist love and invite fear in?
I recognize that fear cripples adults as well as children. Last week I had a beautiful opportunity to speak to the fear in the children. Children often tell me about scary movies they have watched or bloody games they have played. They confidently claim they aren’t scared by them. But then night comes. These same “fearless” children have to sleep with the light on. They have nightmares. They are overwhelmed with fear. They want to turn on the light in my car at night because they are afraid of the dark.
So I remind them constantly Whose they are. One of our memory verses is Isaiah 43:1, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine!” What an awesome reality, if we just choose to live in it!
The chorus of “Fear Is a Liar” (Zach Williams) is running through my mind right now: “Fear, he is a liar. He will take your breath, stop you in your steps. Fear, he is a liar. He will rob your rest, steal your happiness. Cast your fear in the fire, for fear, he is a liar.” It’s true, folks! Fear is a liar. And I’m not playing his game.
So I gave the children an option last week. NO FEAR! I bought crowns and stick-on jewels and poster board with glitter. And I let them decorate and dress up as the beautiful treasures they are: CHILDREN OF THE ONE TRUE KING! Trade your fears for faith, and come to be transformed by perfect love! Well done, kiddos! ❤️
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” 1 John 3:1
