Materials:
Large Stuffed Teddy Bear



Duration:
Approximately 10 minutes

One night the young boy was getting ready for bed, he was tucked into bed, had said his prayers and his dad had just turned off the light, when the little boy cried out "There's a giant monster in my closet!" The boy's father came back into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. What kind of monster did you see the father asked? The little boy replied it's a giant hairy troll. The father reached into the closet and pulled out a large stuffed teddy bear (pull out the large stuffed teddy bear) and asked "Is this what you saw?" The father patted the boy on the shoulder and said let me tell you a true story that I think will help you overcome your fears.

Many years ago God did a mighty work for a group of people called the Israelites. God had delivered them from slavery and was going to give them a beautiful new land of their own. While delivering them God had performed many miracles, one of which was to part the waters of the red sea so that they could pass through on dry ground. Just before they were to enter the Promised Land, God instructed the Israelite's leader to send 12 men to explore the land. 10 men came back and were very much afraid! They said that although the land was wonderful it was inhabited by huge giants! The ten fearful men said that compared to the giants they looked like grasshoppers! The other two men said that there were indeed giants in the land but that God had promised them the land. The men reported that the land was very good! They showed the people some of the giant grapes that they had brought back with them. The two brave men said that the people should trust God and remember all all the miracles He had already done for them! Surely God would keep his promise and give them this land. Sadly the people choose to listen to the ten fearful men. Because of their unbelief God made the Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years.

You see the Israelites fears were unfounded, they let their fears get the better of them and it undermined their trust in God. God was protecting them and would have given them the land that He had promised them, giants or no giants. God still protects and delivers us to this very day. Don't let unfounded fears get the better of you, take comfort in the fact that God loves us very much and is here today to help and protect us.

The little boy looked up at his father and said "I think I understand... instead of focusing on an imagined fear, we should focus on how much God loves us and remember that God wants the best for us." The father smiled and kissed his son goodnight. That night the little boy who had once had giant fears, replaced his fears with God's giant love.