The Bible Speaks to You April 11, 1970 Issue

[The above is an abbreviated, postproduction text of the program released for broadcast the week of April 3–9 in the radio series, "The Bible Speaks to You." Heard internationally over more than 1,000 stations, the weekly programs are prepared and produced by the Christian Science Committee on publication, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 02115.]

RADIO PROGRAM NO. 418 - Overcoming Fear of the Night

with contributions from Robert Mckinnon, Michael Thorneloe

[The participants are Michael Thorneloe and Robert Mckinnon.]

McKinnon: Many people today, for health or other reasons, are very apprehensive about what the night hours may bring—illness, loneliness, isolation.

Thorneloe: We can certainly feel for people who have such apprehensions. But I think one thing that can help us do more than simply get through the night is to begin to learn about our real selfhood, as the Bible brings out. Fear of the night hours, as I think your comments have implied, often results from preoccupation with ourselves as mortal, physical beings, wrapped up in matter and subject to the unknown. But we read in Psalms (4:8), "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety," and again in Proverbs (3:24), "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." What a wonderful promise that is!