Fear seeks a deep, dark place to hole up. It can’t be left out in the open where it may be touched by light, for there it stands a chance to dissipate and weaken, and fear can’t have that. It needs the abysmal, to thicken and come to a boil.
I have never been in such fear as when my son was in addiction. In the early years, I holed up in the basement watching television, playing games on my computer and staying safe from the light that would dare to dissolve my fears. I thought I needed to attend to my fears so they couldn’t surprise me. I spent my hours with my nightmares, getting to know them, asking what they were going to do next.
I also prayed. Isn’t that funny? I essentially befriended my fears, all the while begging God to release me from them. I could find no hope great enough to release me from their grip until I went to a 12 Step program for friends and family of alcoholics. There, in a warm circle of others, I spilled my fears out onto the floor where they gradually faded away
in the fluorescent lights of church basements.
No, it wasn’t really those lights, it was His Light. He led me there. He provided those rooms, those people, those healing principles for me to become brave enough to let go of my fears with the promise of His Truths. God is the only place to turn in fear. His Light softens it and slowly fills the dark places with hope
How long, O Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Habakkuk 1:2
Meeting God at the Park 