Do you remember watching Scooby-Doo cartoons? For a lot of kids this was their first introduction to the horror genre. Something spooky happens and instead of walking away from danger, like sane people would, Scoob and the gang, Mystery Incorporated, would start investigating. Without fail they would be running around the “haunted” mansion, finding secret passages, and ultimately trapping the “ghost” with some clever stunt. Almost without fail, the spooky monster turned out to be some guy in a mask. The thing they were scared of turned out to be no real danger at all.

Often, we find ourselves in a similar situation in life. We feel afraid and as though we are running for our life, but the thing we’re running from is only perceived as dangerous rather than being an actual threat. Running for your life is exhausting! Mystery Incorporated only gets to stop running when they decide to face the scary thing that was chasing them.

As Christians we have a not-so-secret weapon. We know that whatever we are facing we have the God of the universe on our side. And if God has your back who or what could stop you? Paul puts it this way in Romans 8:31-33, “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

That isn’t to say being brave is easy. Bravery starts with the recognition that you are afraid (or anxious, or nervous) and choosing to step into it anyway. If you struggle with anxiety this might be a choice you make every day. I pray that bravery wins, but even on the days that it doesn’t you are surrounded by the love and grace of God.

We all have times when we need to stop running, and discern whether the thing we’re running from is a threat, something we need to confront, or just some weirdo in a

Become one of those meddling kids.