The day was crisp and cool as the sun and gentle breeze carried a sweetness through the air. Bright yellow leaves floated gracefully around me while I trimmed back a large flowerbed, preparing it for winter’s rest.
Suddenly, I heard heavy breathing.
In Montana, that sound can mean only one thing—a bear. My heart raced as I realized I was bent low in a pile of clippings without my bear spray. What was I thinking?
Before I could even react, a blur of movement flashed past me.
A deer, wild-eyed and desperate, nearly brushed my side as it bolted past. Right behind it came a pit bull, harness and leash trailing behind like streamers in the wind.
The two thundered up my driveway in a blur of speed and sound, leaving me frozen in place—thankful to still be standing and untouched by the chaos.
As the dust settled, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and gratitude. How many times in life have we come close to our greatest fears?
Scripture offers us comfort and assurance when anxieties close in. God’s Word reminds us His power and love can calm even the most frightened heart in the most unexpected moments.
Fear, if left unchecked, can rob us of peace and joy. Yet God invites us to trust Him—especially when we can’t see the outcome. Whether it’s the fear of loss, uncertainty about the future, or the weight of illness, we are not left to face it alone.
The psalmist wrote, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
And in Proverbs 29:25 we’re reminded, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
When we lay our fears at His feet, something beautiful happens—we begin to sparkle and shine in a different light.
As Steven Wood’s song says so tenderly:
“When I see how I used to be it makes me cry that You would die for me. I wonder if I’m worth what You went through—then I catch a glimpse of You in me. ’Cause I see me in a different light. There’s a different kind of light in me. ’Cause it sparkles and shines like the eyes of a child with a hope I never thought I’d see.”
When fear rushes in like that startled deer, may we remember God stands between us and what chases us. His peace is not the absence of trouble—it’s the presence of His light within us.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for being my refuge in every storm and my calm in every fear. When life’s moments take me by surprise, help me to rest in Your presence and remember Your promises.
Shine through me, Lord, so that others may see Your light in the way I live and trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
