Kids fears: The dark

Kids have fears. Sometimes we adults can remember having those same fears. Some are logical or at least seem logical to kids. Others, don't seem rational at all even after the child explains. And then a child will communicate a fear that is such a sign of the times that as adults we wish things were different.

As a way to help my kids through some of their fears, I started writing a bedtime story and researched scriptures that might help. A fear of the dark is a pretty common fear. Depending on how you grew up or where you are now, you may still find the dark unnerving. Here are several verses I found to help my girls:

Gen 1:5, 16, 18 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 28:11 When [Jacob] reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

Ezra 8:32 So [Ezra and the priests and Levites] arrived in Jerusalem, where [they] rested three days.

Psalm 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Psalm 4:8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety

Mt 8:24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.

Mark 4:38a Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion

Mark 6:31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that [the apostles] did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”