By: Angela Gillaspie © October 2001

Weeks ago, I saw that wide-eyed look of fear in my children's sweet faces.

Like many parents, I was forced to teach my children about terrorism. This awful lesson goes against my job as a mother because I'm supposed to be teaching my children confidence and morality not fear and uncertainty.

Airplanes fly over, and I cringe. My friends are nervous in crowds and many of us have canceled trips. Life as we live it and know it is gone - replaced with breathtaking doubt and despair. Is there hope? How can I be comforted so that I can comfort my kids?

I cried to God for freedom from fear because I am tempted to give up hope. There are just too many bad things happening.

God answered my prayer by directing me to watch my children pray. So I stopped, took a deep breath and saw through their simple prayers that God is still on His throne. He is in control. Then my childhood prayers and Sunday school lessons rushed at me - God is my father, Abba and He is my friend; He hears every word I pray. He's got the whole world in His hands.

As a child, I prayed at mealtimes, "God is great, God is good, Let us thank Him for our food. Amen." At night, I prayed, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, God bless me Lord, my soul to take."

Now my own children pray these same words and know that God is their father and friend; He hears every word they pray.

I remember closing my eyes and praying as a child. I didn't see God, but I knew He was there - I had no doubt. What I learned from Sunday school and my parents I accepted whole-heartedly. At night when I prayed for the Lord my soul to keep, I imagined Him sitting comfortably on the side of my bed smiling down at me.

There is hope! It is reflected in God's power working through each of us. God is my refuge, my blessed haven from worry, just like when I was a child. I am at peace.

Psalm 17:6-7 beautifully says, "I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes."

You know what? Nothing has changed from when I was small, God is still here with me and I am still His child. I raise my hands and heart in prayer to Him.

God is great! God is good! It's time to rekindle that childlike faith about hope and God's power. It's time for me to be His loving child again.

I will go ahead and pray - He is listening.

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