Spooks and Stairs

When I was a young lad growing up on the farm, from time to time I would be asked to go down into our basement and get something for mom.  I remember the fear that I felt having to go down into that dark, dank place. . .and the worst of it was the stairs!  You see, those stairs were open and so anything could have been lurking under them waiting to reach out and grab my feet at any time!  I remember that like it was yesterday.

Now being much closer to fifty than to fifteen I can still experience the feeling of fear--not the same kind that rose in me as I descended those rotten stairs, but fear nonetheless.  But there is a common denominator, I think, in the fear experienced then and now:  it rises out of a clear sense of feeling alone.

That's one of Satan's favorite tricks is to make human beings, both Christian and non-Christian alike, feel that they are on their own.  That no one is there who can really help them.  And he also likes to try and convince us that not only are we alone, but that we are also unable to overcome whatever it is that we are facing.

Let it be said, very clearly, we cannot make it on our own; we cannot overcome our deep-seated fears by simply digging deeper and trusting that we will find the answers we need buried deep inside our souls. 

No, we need help.

And thankfully, oh so thankfully, we have been given the help we need--we are not alone!!

At the end of Matthew 28 Jesus says this one line:  "And surely I am with you, to the very end of the age."

Think about this:  if you have come into relationship with Jesus, you are blessed with His presence in your life-He is with you.  His power, His love, comfort, wisdom, protection, guidance and on and on-has been promised to you.  He is going to stick with you no matter what.  Even when the world falls apart and human history comes to an end--He will be there, able to help you, able to guide you, and willing to do that too.

No matter what the Devil tries to tell you, you are not alone.

So today, as you face the odds that might be stacked up against you in life; the loss of work, or a spouse, or close relative--whatever it is that is tempting you to feel that you are alone and abandoned--that there is little hope that you will make it through this thing--remember this:  Jesus is surely with you--all the way and right now.

I would encourage you to pray to Jesus right now and give him your fear, doubts and loneliness.  Confess to him your self-sufficient attitudes and place yourself directly in His hands.  He will take care of you.

BT