Nightmares

Read: Psalms 3:1-6; 42:8; 63:6

Lara ran so hard it hurt. She glanced over her shoulder. The lion was still chasing her and getting closer. Suddenly, she tripped and fell flat on her face! A huge roar echoed, and she could almost feel the lion’s hot breath on her neck. She screamed—then woke up in her own bed. All the covers were kicked off, and her forehead was sweaty.

Lara lay still, trying to calm her beating heart and go back to sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lion chasing her. Finally, she got out of bed and tiptoed to her mom’s room. “Mom,” she whispered, “I had another nightmare, and I’m afraid to go to sleep.” Mom got up, and together they went back to Lara’s room.

“I know the dream wasn’t real, Mom, but it was so scary!” Lara said after Mom tucked her back in bed. “How can I get it out of my mind?”

Mom switched on the lamp and got Lara’s Bible out of a drawer. “God’s Word can help with your nightmares,” she said as she turned the pages. “The book of Psalms is a good place to find verses of comfort when we feel afraid. Let’s read Psalm 118:6. Here, read it out loud for me.”

Taking the Bible, Lara read, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” She gave her mother a little smile. “The last part could say, ‘What can mere nightmares do to me?’ Is it okay to read it like that?”

Mom nodded. “That will remind you that your nightmares can’t hurt you, and that Jesus is always there to comfort you.”

Lara put a bookmark between the pages to save the place. “I’ll read this whenever I have a nightmare. Then I won’t have to get up and find you.”

“Great idea,” said Mom, returning the Bible to the drawer. “It’s short, and you could even memorize it. That way you can repeat it to yourself whenever something scares you.” She smiled. “But you can still come and get me if you feel afraid.”

After Mom kissed her goodnight, Lara snuggled down deep into the covers and whispered, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.”

–Faith Alessio

How about you? Do you have nightmares or find it hard to go to sleep? Remember that if you know Jesus as your Savior, He is with you all the time. Like King David in today’s Bible reading, you can meditate—or think—about God when you’re awake at night. If you think about the presence and power of God, your fears will look much smaller. You can have peace knowing He is with you.

Today's Key Verse In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. (NIV) Psalm 4:8

Today's Key Thought God is with you