When you're afraid

The Christian Science Monitor

Probably everybody has been afraid sometime. When I'm scared, I pray. I know that if I turn to God, He will help me. How? Sometimes I just stop feeling scared and feel calm and peaceful instead. Sometimes I get an idea about what to do. Sometimes a scary situation just dissolves—people who were yelling and looked as though they might start fighting, suddenly cool off.

To me, the best explanation of how God protects us when we are afraid is in Psalm 91 in the Bible. The people in Bible times were just as troubled by violence as we are. This particular psalm talks about dangers that seem to be all around us, but it doesn't stop there—it promises us God's help. In one place it says, "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways" (verses 10, 11)

That's a pretty big promise. And if angels were material beings with feathers, it would be hard for them to keep track of everybody. But they aren't. Angels are ideas from God, messages from Him to us. God knows us as His children, so it's natural for Him to send us ideas that will help us and keep us safe. He's just being a good Father!

Send a comment to the editors