Fear of the unknown surrounds the young; strange shapes in the darkness, creepy sounds in the night, slithering creatures under the bed or in the closet. They all work together to make little hands clench the sheets and yank them over their heads until the dawn of the next day. The worries of the world—political unrest, wars, street crime, and diseases—can deeply disturb young minds. They hear the news and imagine the troubles sneaking into their own homes; they magnify the dangers, exaggerating them, having no experience to discern the real risks.
What is a father to do? One of our best resources is to tell stories about times that we were scared and pass along how we were comforted through our trials. It is through remembering God’s mercies when we wondered about the future, seeing his mighty works when we could not see how the days of trouble would end, that we have the confidence to stand now without fear.
Whether or not monsters really stalk our children from the dark corners of their rooms, tales of God's protection will help them stare down the murky shadows.-@BryanDavisAuth Click To TweetMany children haven’t yet experienced great trials during their short lives. With few exceptions, they’ve never faced a fierce enemy and experienced deliverance from his evil intent.
It’s a father’s duty, therefore, to extend comfort to our little ones, so they can feel the warm blanket of protection when they suffer the chill of the unknown. Whether or not monsters really stalk our children from the dark corners of their rooms, tales of God’s protection will help them stare down the murky shadows, and they’ll sleep, heads uncovered, in blissful confidence and peace.
What stories do we tell? What kind of tale would help our children see the light of God’s protection even in the darkest of times? At our home we receive mission magazines, and we delight in reading the stories of our dedicated missionaries in foreign and often dangerous countries. Whether at the dinner table or during our evening devotions, I enjoy watching the wide eyes of the younger children as we recount the dangers, even near-fatal encounters, from which God has rescued countless numbers of his servants.
Along with sharing the stories of others, I frequently sprinkle in my own recollections of challenges and dangers and how everything worked out. And it doesn’t hurt to tell them the same story more than once, for the effects it has on their hearts changes over the years as each child matures in wisdom and understanding.
There's nothing God can't handle, and this simple message brings comfort to almost any child.-BryanDavisAuth Click To TweetStories that may seem “small,” God’s little mercies on a day-to-day basis, help our children see God’s intimate care, that he is not concerned only about the big issues—war, disease, and parting seas—but he truly does care for us more than the sparrows he counts in the fields. I tell them about the near miss on the highway, about how a stranger hailed me and gave me the wallet I had just dropped, and about an edifying e-mail from a Christian friend. I also encourage them to tell me about their activities, so we try to identify the events in which we can see God’s protection and resulting comfort.
Sometimes a child might be experiencing a situation no story can address. There is still a way to help him find comfort. We don’t have to rely on a specific event God has already handled; we can rely on the immovable foundation of God’s character, the unsearchable depths of his wisdom, and the inestimable reach of his power. Simply put, there’s nothing God can’t handle, and this simple message brings comfort to almost any child.
Happy Father’s Day!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
Bryan Davis is the author of Let the Ghosts Speak as well as several bestselling series, including Dragons in our Midst, the Reapers Trilogy, the Time Echoes Trilogy, Dragons of Starlight, and Tales of Starlight. He and his wife, Susie, work together as an author/editor team to create his fantasy/adventure tales.
In 19th century Paris, Justin Trotter, an immigrant from England, is making his way as a book translator while paying for his blind twin sister’s care. One evening, Marc Noël, Justin’s well-to-do friend and fellow thespian, invites him to a masquerade party at an abandoned schoolhouse. Justin hopes this will be an opportunity to get to know Marc’s lovely though sharp-tongued sister, Francine.
At the event, Justin meets four ghostly strangers—two adults and two children—who warn him that the party guests are in danger, and they must leave at once. True to their prediction, a murder takes place, and Justin is the prime suspect. He escapes and becomes a fugitive, hiding in the Paris catacombs.
Mystery and intrigue swirl as the ghost of Joan of Arc and other martyrs guide Justin on a lonely journey to prove his innocence and protect his sister from an abusive caretaker. Who really committed the crime? Marc? Francine? A ghost? And does seeing these ghosts mean he is going insane? Maybe he really is the murderer after all.
There is only one way to find out, to let the ghosts speak as they reveal the mysteries within Justin’s mind.
