Last Updated on June 26, 2018
One of the bummers of being a single mom is checking out creepy noises in the night. I was never the gal who wanted to prove she was brave … except to bravely wake up my husband to go look around.
Recently I’ve had to wake up a few times to look around. I’m better than I used to be, but honestly I still get a little jittery. One night at 4:30 a.m. I found myself trying to describe the noise that woke me up at 3:30 a.m. Pahpahhumpump sorta fits, but not exactly. Actually I wasn’t even sure there had been a noise … maybe I just dreamt it.
So I laid in my bed straining my ears.
Nothing.
I finally decided if I was ever going to sleep again I was going to have to go do the spooky night walk around the house.
I dragged myself out of bed and instantly had a big ole pitiful me party because I didn’t have a strong and brave husband to push out of bed and deal with my real or imagined scary noise. I’ll blame that moment of weakness on sleepiness.
With my cell phone in hand ready to dial 911 at a moment’s notice, I flicked on lights with abandon and walked around my house checking doors, windows, closets and under furniture.
All clear–thank goodness! Because I didn’t have a plan if I found someone lurking in the shadows.
I’ve come a long way though. I’m becoming a strong mama. I can bravely do things I would have absolutely dreaded before. I recall many times during my married life when I was afraid to be alone, feared going out alone at night, and was a bit skittish about the basement (still am at times!). I couldn’t have imagined facing my fears head on. Now I live a new kind of life that requires me to face and master anxious thoughts.
The first year after my husband left, a lot of fears came crashing in. In ways I can’t comprehend God was gracious to fill me with peace. I found Him to be more than faithful in the big and the small. He was my Provider, my Strength, and my Hope. I grabbed hold of verses like Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
I love all those verses that command us to be strong and courageous. Did you know that God commands us to not be afraid more than any other command in the Bible? I’ve read that God says it 366 times – one for every day, even leap year!
I know that life will be filled with scary noises, dark basements, and lots of other things that will creep me out, but God will be with me always. I can trust Him to walk beside me even in the middle of the night!
[verse reference=”Psalm 56:3″]When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. [/verse]
Sue Birdseye is an author and communicator who shares the adventures she has on her unexpected journey of single parenting. She went from the typical “picket fence” kind of life to being a single mom to five beautiful children. She has learned what it means to be totally dependent upon the Lord and how beautiful that dependence is. Her change of life circumstances has led to a passionate desire to encourage and bless other moms no matter their life circumstances. She has been active in her community as a foster/adoptive mom and public school teacher. She has also been part of her church’s worship, discipleship, women’s, and children’s ministries. She is an avid book reader, a game night hoster, and an early morning writer. Her book “When Happily Ever After Shatters” is the story of how God stepped into her life and the lives of her children just when everything seemed to be falling apart. She hopes that her writing will encourage, bless, and maybe even make someone smile.