Nightmares are scary things. They seem so real and
frightening. You may even wake up screaming. But then you realize it was just a
bad dream and relief washes over your brain and body.
But some nightmares are actual events. It could be a life
threatening health issue like cancer or heart disease or COVID19. Or it may be
a serious illness or a condition such as Parkinson’s or macular degeneration.
The loss of a family member seems like a nightmare too - a spouse or parent or
sibling or the very worst, the loss of a child.
You actually wish it were just a nightmare because to don’t
want it to be real. You can’t believe it’s happening to you. The emotional
shock seems too much to handle. You want to scream. You want it to go away. But
you realize you can’t wake up from this bad dream. You are more afraid than
from any nightmare.
The only relief is the comfort that comes from God. When the
fear and pain that awful events or news produces, the Bible gives us help and
hope. Many times God tells us in His Word, “Don’t be afraid,” or “Fear not.”
Jesus promised to give us His peace.
And some nightmares are from external circumstances, such as
devastating tornados or fires or earthquakes or hurricanes or blizzards. Others
are from wars and rumors of wars. And a current nightmare is from the political
agenda that cancelled the pipeline, and opened the southern border and is
housing kids in prison-like conditions.
Thankfully, God’s promise of peace and comfort apply to
these as well. As it says in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Amen
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON
