Are You Ever Afraid?
In the last few weeks you’ve probably seen lots of things in shops, houses and maybe in school that are scary - things to do with Halloween. It’s not nice to get scared or be afraid is it? Maybe those Halloween things didn’t scare you, but perhaps you’re afraid of the dark, or of being left on your own, or of spiders …
We all have things that make us afraid or scared. But what does God’s book the Bible say about being afraid? 1 John 4:18 says, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear.”
I want you to read this story about a boy called Tom, and remember it when you next feel scared about something.
Tom was playing soccer in the park with his friends when suddenly the sky started to get very dark and a bit scary. Big raindrops started to fall and the wind started howling, so the boys all ran home. As he ran Tom said, “God made the rain and wind, I am not afraid.”
Then he saw a flash of lightning and heard a loud rumble of thunder. As he ran faster, Tom said, “God made the thunder to chase the lightning. I am not afraid.” Still, Tom ran home as fast as he could and let himself in the backdoor. The wind blew, lightning flashed, thunder roared and the rain fell harder and harder and Tom said, “God made the rain to feed the plants. I am not afraid.”
Then hailstones started to fall with the rain. They sounded so loud, pounding on the roof and windows. And Tom said, “Hail is just frozen rain and God made the rain. I am not afraid.” The storm kept raging; the hail crashed down, the wind howled, lightning flashed, thunder roared and rain pounded the windows. And Tom said … Well, Tom didn’t say anything. He ran to his room and hid under his bedcovers. “Dear God, please forgive me. I am scared,” he prayed as he pulled the covers tight over his ears.
“What are you doing?” God asked! “I am hiding from the storm because I am scared,” said Tom. “Why are you scared?” asked God, “don’t you know how much I love you?” “Of course I do!” said Tom.
“If you know that I love you, there is no reason to be scared” said God. “But the storm is so loud and frightening,” Tom replied.
“Tom, My love for you is bigger than any thunderstorm,” said God, “it’s bigger than anything in the universe.”
“I shouldn’t be scared, should I?” said Tom, as he crept out from under the covers.
“I am always here with you and I will never stop loving you,” promised God. “You should never be scared.” Tom looked out his bedroom window. Outside, the wind blew, lightning flashed, thunder roared, the rain and hail came crashing down. And Tom said, ”God loves me. I need never be afraid!“
