A Safe Place

Week 12, Thursday

Dianne Dougharty

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (nlt)

As a little girl, I spent part of my growing-up years in a three-story house on Massachusetts Avenue in Lawrence, Kansas. Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, living in Kansas could be frightful, especially during tornado season. The old house had a mud and stone basement. As a child, I saw it as a dark, cold, and damp place, not somewhere you would choose to go. But when the sirens went off, it was the safest place to be. One night my parents woke us, rushing us to the basement. On the way I grabbed a family Bible and a picture of my grandparents. These were treasures and security to a frightened little girl.

As a child, the fear I felt when summoned to the basement was real—a natural response under the circumstances. I have encountered that same fear these past months of the journey God has had me on, so strong at times I felt as if I would be crushed by it. The darkness, coldness, and frightfulness that comes with it is very similar to the basement where I spent hours as a child.

When God removes us from the security of our surroundings and puts us in a basement, we have two choices: to fear or to trust. At times in this seemingly dark and cold place God has had me, I have chosen to trust Him, and at other times I have fallen prey to Satan’s ploy of fear and doubt. Yes, fear that God would not deliver us, that He would not answer our prayers or keep the promises He’s given me.

Just as my time in the muddy basement was temporary, the time I spend in the grips of fear is limited. I cannot stay there because in my heart I know that Isaiah 41:10 is true: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (esv). Running to the basement as a child I clung to the Bible, and I cling to it now, knowing I have no reason to fear; the sun will shine again!

Father, You are my security, my safe place. Thank You that I have no reason to fear. You are with me in the dark, turning my night into day. Amen.