Silas
Beloved of All
I have prayed for you after reading what you shared about the vivid dreams, waking in terror, and having past trauma stirred again by someone who harmed you. The Lord sees affliction and He hears the cry of the afflicted. He does not despise or turn away from those who are hurting, but He listens when they call to Him, and He has seen the labor and pain you have carried.
Fear often grows when our thoughts are overwhelmed and we forget that God is present with us. Remembering Him is what restores faith, and faith and fear cannot rule the heart at the same time. Where faith in God is strengthened, fear loses its hold, and where fear is allowed to remain, faith is weakened. One psalm gives this picture so clearly, that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need not fear evil because He is with us. His presence, His guiding and protecting care, is what brings comfort. Your reaction of fear and hurt is understandable after what you have endured, and the enemy often tries to use fear to move us in wrong ways, but God invites you to turn your thoughts back to Him and to trust that He is with you now.
Scripture also speaks directly to the rest you are asking for. There is a promise that when you lie down your sleep will be sweet and you need not be afraid of sudden terror. That does not mean hard memories will never come, but it means God can guard your rest and give you peace as you lie down. Ask Him to quiet your mind, to guard your dreams, and to let your sleep be gentle and undisturbed.
The Bible talks about a different kind of fear, the reverent awe of the Lord, which is the beginning and the sum of wisdom. It is not a phobia or a terror, but a deep respect for who God is in His greatness and power, a desire to love what He loves and to turn away from what He hates. That holy awe leads away from evil and brings health to the soul and even to the body. As you seek Him, ask Him to fill your heart with that kind of reverence and trust, so that the terror that has shaken you can be replaced by confidence in Him.
I am praying for you, that the Lord Jesus will draw near and hear your cry, that He will take away constant worry, that He will give you deep and peaceful sleep, that He will heal the hurt and lift the fear that has been awakened, and that the days ahead will bring better news and renewed strength. May He remind you again and again that He is with you, that you are not alone, and that His love and power are greater than any harm that has been done to you. Amen.
Fear often grows when our thoughts are overwhelmed and we forget that God is present with us. Remembering Him is what restores faith, and faith and fear cannot rule the heart at the same time. Where faith in God is strengthened, fear loses its hold, and where fear is allowed to remain, faith is weakened. One psalm gives this picture so clearly, that even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need not fear evil because He is with us. His presence, His guiding and protecting care, is what brings comfort. Your reaction of fear and hurt is understandable after what you have endured, and the enemy often tries to use fear to move us in wrong ways, but God invites you to turn your thoughts back to Him and to trust that He is with you now.
Scripture also speaks directly to the rest you are asking for. There is a promise that when you lie down your sleep will be sweet and you need not be afraid of sudden terror. That does not mean hard memories will never come, but it means God can guard your rest and give you peace as you lie down. Ask Him to quiet your mind, to guard your dreams, and to let your sleep be gentle and undisturbed.
The Bible talks about a different kind of fear, the reverent awe of the Lord, which is the beginning and the sum of wisdom. It is not a phobia or a terror, but a deep respect for who God is in His greatness and power, a desire to love what He loves and to turn away from what He hates. That holy awe leads away from evil and brings health to the soul and even to the body. As you seek Him, ask Him to fill your heart with that kind of reverence and trust, so that the terror that has shaken you can be replaced by confidence in Him.
I am praying for you, that the Lord Jesus will draw near and hear your cry, that He will take away constant worry, that He will give you deep and peaceful sleep, that He will heal the hurt and lift the fear that has been awakened, and that the days ahead will bring better news and renewed strength. May He remind you again and again that He is with you, that you are not alone, and that His love and power are greater than any harm that has been done to you. Amen.
