Who's Your Daddy? - Kristi Buttles

“I lift my eyes to hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121: 1-4

Glowing eyes glared at us through the black curtain of night on our way to the campground, as a coyote leisurely sauntered in front of our van.

That night, hidden creatures appeared under the canopy of the moonlight, while only a thin piece of canvas separated our heads from those that crept in the dark. My family slept, but I lay wide-eyed in our camper, trembling.

I shook as animals’ footsteps and heavy breathing passed by within steps of us. My heart raced at the sound of something wading in the lake only a few feet from my sleeping children. Creatures clanged nearby metal garbage cans. I was utterly terrified. My children slept soundly.

My body shivered uncontrollably when a hefty beast stepped onto our camper’s step, causing the camper to tilt. My children slept soundly.

Then I heard them—coyotes. Their howls drew nearer. I imagined snarling teeth, foaming mouths with curled lips. My children slept soundly.

The howling passed, and I breathed a sigh of relief. My eyelids grew heavy. It was after 3 a.m. and I still had not slept.

The howling began again—more of them this time. Frozen in terror, I felt exposed, helpless, vulnerable, and weak. How were my children still sleeping?

At that moment, the Lord spoke to me as a terrified tear trickled down my cheek. God reminded me that my children slept so well because they trusted their dad and me to keep them safe. They knew we were watching out for them and would protect them. There was nothing to fear.

God reminded me to trust Him to watch over and protect us. Although I felt helpless, I knew we were in His capable hands.

It is easy to succumb to fear. A new job, no job, financial instability, a new phase of life, medical decisions and relationship struggles taunt us to fear the unknown. However, with child-like faith, we have peace through trusting God our Father in all circumstances.

Fear leaves us feeling exposed, helpless, vulnerable and weak, but God reminds us that when we are weak, He is strong! Take heart! Trust God your Father to care for you—even in the darkest of times.

Kristi Buttles is a freelance writer and photographer and has been published in the book Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust. She is an elementary school teacher and is involved in several ministries in her home church. She has written fiction, non-fiction, a Bible study, and a children’s book which she also illustrated. All of which she hopes to publish soon. She has also designed her own line of unique greeting cards that combine her love for words with her passion for photography.
Read Kristi's devotions.