Afraid of the Dark?

Intro

Are you afraid of the dark?

Nyctophobia - Fear of the dark

When I was a kid

basement room, covered the window well, towel under my door for complete darkness

At same time sister terrified - had to touch me at all times

The interesting thing about this fear of the dark is that for the most part, it isn’t about the “dark”.

It’s about what lingers in the dark

What can’t be seen but felt

Fear of my window well was what I could see: frogs, spiders, bones, snakes

The dark involves all of our other senses, and they go into overdrive: what do I hear? What is that smell (wet, moldy....), what is that shadow? and what is brushing up against me?!?!

Body

I would argue that life in general is similar to the light and dark of days

Sure we have good times, we know where we are going, what’s up ahead of us, we have a plan for what comes next...

But there are also moments of night, of darkness, shadows of things we can’t quite make out.

Things get hard and there are no answers

Maybe parents are struggling/fighting and you don’t know how to stop it or what will come of it.

Maybe someone is picking on you at school, and no matter what you do, it won’t stop and you’re afraid of what they might do next or what you might do next.

Maybe you have made decisions or done something, and don’t know how to fix it, or don’t know what will come of those decisions next.

Maybe you are worried about what comes next in life. You feel like you don’t have a good plan or know what to even expect is coming at you next.

Maybe your fear is just of the dark - not having answers

Maybe your fear is what might be waiting in the dark, in the shadows

traps, dead ends, hidden pits, sharp objects, cliffs, pain

one bad decision leading to many painful consequences

Well, take heart, I have great news! - You will get to experience this for the rest of your life! There will always be day… and night… You will never get to a place where there is never a hardship. And Being a Christian will definitely not keep you from these valleys - not one bit

Great news Right????

I know it doesn’t sound great but listen close

There will always be times of the dark

But you don’t have to be in the dark by yourself

You can walk with light itself, with Jesus, who can see every trap, dead end, pit, cliff, pain, everything!

AND.... Jesus wants to help you through it all - not just see it but be an active part in guiding you!!!!

Let’s look @ Psalm 23:4

Psalm 23:4 NIV

4 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.

There you go. It doesn’t say “Even if” but “Even tho”

But then it says I will fear no evil (I won’t be afraid of the dark) Why?

Because you (God) are with me

God promises to be with us!!!! in the valley - even if we are there because we made mistakes, even if the valley is a result of our parents mistakes or anyone elses - He promises to be with us!!!!

His rod and staff - 2 different tools Rod & Staff

Rod = a weapon

Literally a club to hit with

to protect us

to kill the enemy

Staff = tool

help direct or navigate the sheep over difficult terrain

Push you in the right direction

Handy curve to stretch out and get ahold of you if drowning or in quick sand or fall off a cliff

So He has these 2 tools because He is offering to fight for us while navigating us thru the difficult terrain

staff - overcomes the dark - can’t see the answer

rod - overcomes the shadows in the dark - the unseen traps

These tools comfort me!

not only is He with me, but what He is doing for me is comforting me.... in the midst of the dark, shadowy valley!!!!!

Conclusion

When the Lord is your Shepherd, He will fight for you. He will comfort you and lead you by His wisdom. There is no enemy too strong for Him, no terrain too difficult for him to navigate. The promise of our faith is not that we will be spared from suffering, but that God will be by our side. Lean into Him today!!!

John 10:11–13 NIV

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Jesus is the good shepherd who wants to lead you and protect you! He will never leave you to figure it out by yourself.

Are you in the valley today?

Are you turning to God or someone/something else?

Maybe you are not in a valley today but you realize you need to be ready for the dark.

Maybe you would say that the Lord isn’t your Shepherd and you want to change that. Maybe you are tired of fighting in the dark by yourself. Maybe you thought that someone or something else would help you in the dark and it is just not working out.

If you want to change that, all you have to do is ask God. You can tell Him that you believe in Him, that you believe that Jesus died for you to forgive you of your sins and to be able to have a relationship with.

You can ask Him to help you thru your situation, thru your life.

Group Discussion:

What kind of things help boost your mood throughout the day? (coffee, friends, food…)

Why doesn’t the mood-boost last?

John16:33b “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” What does this verse mean to you?

In what ways should your faith in Christ be strengthened by the truth that He, the creator of the world, cares for you?

Challenge: Memorize Psalm 23:4. Journal: This week, take some time to reflect on times you have faced suffering in the past. Write down 2-3 specific ways that God comforted you throughout that time with His protection and guidance