Fear, Peace

I recall the story of a little girl who, when trains were popular transportation, was taking her first train ride with her parents. As night descended, the mother took the girl, who was clearly quite anxious, and placed her on the upper bunk of the sleeper. She told her little one that up there she would be nearer to God and that God would watch over her.

As silence enveloped the young lady she became afraid and called softly, "Mommy, are you there?"

"Yes dear," came the response.

A little later, in a louder voice, the child called, "Daddy, are you there, too?"

"Yes dear," was the reply.

After this had been repeated several times one of the passengers sharing their sleeper car finally lost his patience and shouted loudly, "Yes, we're all here, your father, your mother, your brother, and all your aunts and cousins; now settle down and go to sleep!"

There was a moment of silence and then, in hushed tones a little voice asked, "Mommy, was that God?"

You may be someone who never had many doubts about God's presence in your life. You might be someone who has always felt comfort from God and little doubt about God's hand in your life. If you are one of these people you are one of few, for most people fear. They fear the darkness, they fear the day, they fear people, the law, family, friends, enemies, life, and death. You name it. Fear is all around us. So Jesus made it clear to his disciples that he wanted them to have peace and that he would leave that peace with them. (Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, adapted from John M. Braaten, The Greatest Wonder Of All)