Night Terrors by Robin Densmore Fuson

 

Sound asleep, something bit my ankle. As I came fully awake, realization hit—not a small mouth like a bug but a large one about the size of a walnut. I silently screamed, run! Afraid of what lurked under my sheets, I slowly brought my legs toward my chest and slipped out of bed.

I turned on the light, flinging the covers back.

Nothing.

I frowned.

A dream?

Really? It felt so real. I could still feel the pressure. I peered at my sore spot. No blood. No marks.

I’m a vivid dreamer but this seemed a bit bizarre even for me. What could have caused this distress to my ankle?

I switched off the light after doing a much larger inspection of my bed and the surrounding area. Kenzi, my dog, watched me. She wouldn’t let anything that large enter my bed, or room, or the house for that matter.

The red numbers on the clock informed—a quarter till four. More darkness awaited me, and I needed sleep, so I crawled back into what normally was my comfortable place and congratulated myself on my bravery.

As I curled up into a ball and stared into the dark, I thought about the tender spot and what may have led up to this interruption of my slumber.

Ah. My ankle had been itching in the exact spot right after I had gone to bed. It bothered me enough to get up and lather lotion on it twice. Those nerves had been stimulated, and eased, only to scream at me in the wee hours of the night.

 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.

Anxiety, or fear, is a liar. Fear sneaks upon us as a tiny thing that can turn into a nightmare—crippling our spirit. It can take captive our normalcy and all our thoughts. Just as the itch came back as a huge irritant, so can fear.

We need to cast our cares to the Lord. His shoulders are able to carry all our burdens. I’ve let fear fester into a huge mess by not trusting the Lord with what worries me. Praying and tossing it to the Lord and thanking Him for His provision is what we should do.

When life seems fearful, we need to cling to the Lord, give Him the problem, and rest in His strength while trusting Him.

After I realized what had caused the sensation of a bite, I thanked the Lord, who calmed my nerves, and I slipped off into sleep. I had peace. God gives us that peace that guards our hearts and minds.