Remember who you are—a child of God—even when you’re frightened. Jon M. Sweeney, Walking In Grace 2025

The night air is crisp and fall-like in nature. A big yellow moon hangs against a very dark sky. The scene feels almost electric with the excitement of kids putting the final touches on their costumes and gathering up their bags or buckets before hitting the street to ring doorbells of their neighbors in their quest for a boatload of sweet treats. It’s a perfect night and they’ve been planning for weeks….but, wait a minute, this is the Ozarks. We all know that Halloween night is seldom picture perfect. Most years, the kids are so bundled in warm clothing they can hardly walk. And let’s not forget how often a cold rain falls on their big night.

But kids are resilient—they’ve looked forward to this night with such enthusiasm, nothing is going to squelch their excitement. And they’re learning about costumes and candy collecting very young. A few days ago, Ken was talking to a neighbor, and his toddler wandered over. Ken was wearing a Halloween T-shirt from the past, and the child asked, in his not-so-clear little voice, “Is that your costume?”

Kids relish the very concept of being out on the streets after dark and being on their own, even though their parents may be a hundred feet behind or, perhaps, at the end of the street. There’s a slightly scary element to being in the dark and knowing that a “monster” may appear out of nowhere. But they’ve practiced for weeks in their favorite superhero costumes, and they know how to turn away any old monster.

Sometimes, however, even the most seasoned of trick-or-treaters can be caught off guard and be frightened by an unexpected happening, and tiny ones can just be upset by the major adjustment in their daily routine. These are scenarios that can be turned around easily with a simple touch of a loving hand..

When I am afraid, Lord, remind me to listen for Your voice and look for Your hand. Jon M. Sweeney, Walking In Grace 2025

But, we all know, there’s scary and then there’s SCARY! When life throws us a SCARY curve, where do we turn? We’ve long since lost our confidence in superheroes, and our own strength is just not enough. Being a Child of God relieves that burden. When our full confidence and trust is placed on His shoulders, fear can just go hide in the shadows where it belongs. And we can live safely under the loving protection of His wings. Fear will always be a part of our lives. It’s how we handle it that matters. If we put on all the armor God offers us and let Him have our backs, we’re headed in the right direction.

Being free from fear doesn’t mean that we will never experience it or be confronted by it. It means that we are committed to not allowing it to rule our lives, and when necessary, we will do what we need to do, even if we have to do it afraid. Joyce Meyer, Quiet Times with God

So, when your doorbell rings this Halloween night, enjoy your young ghosts and goblins, superheroes, and princesses. Let’s hope they all enjoy their treats in small doses. As a final note, last year, two cute little girls came to our door each evening for several days after Halloween and shared their candy with us. I’m sure their parents had something to do with that, but it was so cute that they were willing to share from what they had gathered. We need to remember to share what we have gathered through study and prayer, and our constant relationship with Jesus. There are lots of scared people out there who could use a large dose of encouragement. And we have the knowledge and power to offer it.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another. Colossians 3:16 NLT

Chew it. Swallow it. Speak it. Heed it. (Max Lucado, referring to the scripture)