Jessica sat in the back of the room while her co-leader taught the Bible lesson. The five-year-olds squirmed, but most of them seemed to be paying attention. Suddenly, Danny left the carpet and scurried under the table, his hands over his head. Jessica hurried over and whispered to him.

“Are you OK, Danny?”

Danny scooted further under the table. Jessica tried reaching a hand to him. “Are you scared?”

Danny nodded. What could possibly be scary to him in this simple Bible lesson? Jessica bent closer and whispered. “Can you tell me why you’re scared?”

Danny stared at her with his innocent wide eyes. “I don’t want to learn about the Bible.”

Jessica blinked. That was the last thing she expected him to say. Danny and his family had been part of the church for years. His older siblings and his parents helped out teaching in other classrooms. Why on earth didn’t he want to learn about the Bible?

“Can you tell me why you don’t want to learn about the Bible? Why are you scared?”

Danny tightened his hands around his head. “I’m afraid of heights.”

Jessica sat back on her heels, confused. Finally, it clicked. “Are you afraid because heaven is in the sky?”

Danny nodded and Jessica felt a rush of compassion for this little guy. “Oh, Danny, you don’t have to be afraid of heaven. It’s not like being in a high up place. Heaven is wonderful. There’s nothing to be scared of there. There’s no crying or pain. People are scared of lots of things here on earth, like heights or spiders, but heaven isn’t scary.”

Danny lowered his arms. “I’m afraid of spiders, too.” He scooted closer to Jessica.

She tried another tactic. “When your daddy hugs you, do you feel safe?”

Another nod.

“That’s what heaven is like. It’s like being safe in your daddy’s arms. That’s what is like being with Jesus. I promise you. There’s nothing scary at all about heaven.” She pointed back to where the other children sat listening. “Do you want to go back and listen?”

Danny crawled out from under the table and they re-joined the other children.

Long after Jessica left for home, the conversation with Danny stayed in her mind. She’d never considered someone would be afraid of heaven because they were afraid of heights. She relayed the story to her husband.

Gary chuckled. “Cute.”

“Danny certainly is cute. But you’re right, it’s a cute story, too.”

“He’s kind of like you, you know?” Gary patted the sofa next to him.

Jessica crossed the room and joined him on the sofa. “Do you mean because I’m cute, too?” She grinned at her husband.

Gary squeezed her hand. “You sure are, but that’s not what I meant. You were trying to teach Danny that God and heaven are safe.”

“True, but I’m not sure what you’re saying.”

Gary turned to face Jessica. “Michael.”

Jessica stiffened. “What about him?”

“Do you believe our son loves the Lord?”

Jessica rubbed her hand across the back of her neck. “Of course, he does. He’s been an amazing example of a Christian for his whole life. He wouldn’t want to go halfway around the world if he didn’t love God. Why are you asking me that?”

Gary’s voice was gentle. “Michael is following God. God called him into missions. And no, he’s not always going to be in the safest places, but he’s doing what God called him to do. I don’t think you’ve come to peace with that.”

Jessica swallowed hard. “I know he’s following God. But I worry about him all the time. So many things could go wrong. Even if it wasn’t so dangerous, they don’t have a great health care system there. What if he gets sick, or …”

Gary laid a hand on Jessica’s arm. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. Michael is following God. There’s nothing to be scared of. Just like Danny was afraid of heaven, something you know is not to be feared, Michael is squarely in the center of God’s will, and God will take care of him. Michael is being blessed by what he is doing, and he’s blessing others. Any trials that happen, whether he gets sick, or even loses his life, are all being allowed by God for a reason.”

A single tear trailed down Jessica’s cheek and she wiped it away. “I have to let go of my fears for him.”

“You do.”

A sense of peace washed over Jessica for the first time since Michael announced his decision six months ago. God was holding her son in His hands. And no one could take him away from Him.

John 10: 27-29

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Dear God, sometimes we are so fearful in this world. Some of our fears may seem unfounded, but others feel like they could swallow us whole. We fear for the safety of our loved ones, for uncertain diagnoses, for the unknown future. But you have a wonderful place prepared for us in heaven and there is no reason for us to fear. There’s nothing that can happen to us that You don’t allow. Thank you for being like a daddy’s hug, for enveloping us in safety. And thank You Lord, for the simple innocence of children and the blessing of them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.