Halloween is a favorite of many people. I am not one of them (though I do enjoy the candy leftover after the trick or treaters have come and gone). I just don’t like being freighted. Horror movies are horrible to me. Terrifying costumes and decorations are terrible. A haunted house is definitely not my idea of a funhouse. I don’t like being scared, even if it’s all pretend. I don’t need a holiday to make life more scary than it already is. Because life is scary.
Today, there was a report of another school shooting. Russia’s Putin continues to threaten using nuclear weapons. Cancer, Alzheimer’s, COVID and diseases yet unknown are waiting. Carjackings and drive by shootings are a daily occurrence in the Twin Cities. Even the numbers on my bathroom scale are getting scarier every year.
Fortunately, there is one to calm our fears and give us peace of mind. Jesus says in John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
If you are one who likes a good Halloween scare, be safe and have fun. But if you are trying to avoid being scared, especially by the really frightening things in life, turn to Jesus. God can give you the peace you need.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Mark