Being scared witless is a thrill-seeking activity for some.
They thrive on the excitement and huge surge of adrenaline it gives them.
Nothing satisfies like being brought to the edge and left hanging by a thread.
Horror/scary movies and roller-coaster rides are a drop in the ocean for such people.
Barely worth raising a sweat for.
I’m not one of them.
Having had much to disturb my equilibrium (and cause emotional highs I could live without) as a small child was enough for me.
It doesn’t take much to rock your world when it’s been turned upside-down by those you trusted to take care of you.
Too much real-life terror can make us crave security and stability at any price.
My peace isn’t rooted in my circumstances, but in the One who is both within and outside of them.
God is intimately involved and concerned about every aspect of our lives.
And He alone can give us all the resources we need to fully deal with the things that scare us, cause us grief and pain.
Childish imagination can run riot. We see life through the lens of the ‘what ifs’ and ‘possibles’.
As adults, we can look at life that way too – often in terms of worry and anxiety – or by asking ourselves, “What if I invited God into this situation? I wonder what would be possible then?”
Have you any ‘monsters’ looming large in your life?
Maybe it’s time for a bit of monster bashing.
‘Monster bashing’
As a child I climbed wary up ‘apples and pears’
for who knew what lurked at the top
of our steep stairs?
Someone might think it a wheeze, a lark
to pop out of a doorway
in sheltered dark
so my heart beat fast and I ran
into my bedroom
safe at last
though only for a little while
as there was much besides
to wipe off a smile
What if…instead of the stairs
there was something lurking
Under There
waiting to snaffle my delicate toes
with tongue poking out
‘neath its bulbous nose?
My breath held still, waiting
while feet slid cautious
under covers, hesitating…
then let out an exhaled sigh
silly me with imagination
running sky-high
Though no night terror could compete
with the monsters inside
my home and street
given freedom beyond my years
I could have been one of
those who disappears
finding, as I did when fully grown
that monsters loom large
more in heart than home
no longer safely contained
under my bed but barely
restrained inside my head
Largest of all is the monster FEAR
which paralyses us greatly
from getting anywhere
He seems unstoppable, untamed
until I remember to cry aloud
in Jesus’ Name
for every monster lurking in our head
has to flee when God’s authority
is stated and said
Even if they return to do their worst
by the power of the Cross
they’re defeated and cursed
So whatever monster you’re facing today
be it fear, anxiety, stress,
don’t let it hold sway
be on your guard, put your armour on,
keep the faith, say a prayer
stand tall and strong
for we’re fully protected by God’s grace,
His poured out blood, love, righteousness
and forgiveness covers
all shame and disgrace
©JoyLenton2013
Linking here with the lovely Ruth Povey for #Letterto This week’s prompt is:‘Letter to the monster under the bed’
You are warmly welcome and invited to join in.
Poetry Joy 