What Goes Bump in the Night

Things that go bump in the night.

Wrapping up a rather good day, I sat with my two good friends talking about past experiences. Before I knew it, we had moved on the subject of being scared of the dark. 

Or rather, I should say; being scared of what's in the dark. 

I have never been afraid of the dark. I used to wonder why children were, at young ages. I suppose it is a fear of not knowing what could be hiding in the corners of your bedroom. But I was not raised to be fearful of anything. 

I guess I should explain that I do believe spirits inhabit people, and you must be right with God to have your name in the Book of Life. I do not fear because God made me his princess. 

I did not always believe that. I did not always understand that power and responsibility. 

When I was 18, I moved out of the house my parents lived in. I wanted to learn to be on my own. I found a cute, tiny 2 bedroom house and signed a lease with my best friend. We were so excited beginning to do what we had always wanted, being independent. The story goes on deeper and deeper until several months pass by and we think we've made a mistake. 

We weren't afraid of the things we knew, but rather the things we did not know. We began to fear our modest dwelling place, believing it to be haunted or "inhabited" if you will.

But I failed to recognize it as what is was.

Months go by. I continue to recognize this growing ever-present evil.

One day, I arrive home after work ready to begin the daily process of going out and staying out late. Today was going to be a good day because it was 3pm, the sun was out and I was planning on wearing shorts. It was a beautiful day.

All beautiful things will come to an end at some point. This is true and evident every day.

This day I was haunted. I skip to the bathroom to shower and get ready for my night.  Suddenly my empty house becomes a house of mirrors, the hairs of my neck stand on end. A door slams behind me and I hear angry fists banging on the door, begging to be let in.

I freeze. I am not alone.

I will spare the rest of the details. To say I was frightened would be unfair to describe the horrific event.

Nothing happened physically to me. It was all a game of minds. That is how these demons get to you. These games of the mind torment you until you aren't sure what is real. To this day, I stand by the statement I was ever so briefly, tormented by the unseen.

But that was 3 years ago. Fast forward to today and I am still aware of what happened, but not nearly as worried.

I was not able to pray them away because I did not know how.

I was raised with prayer and God. On that same spectrum, I was raised knowing all evil things were from the devil. You hear all the time that you cannot believe in one without the other, it is balance. But I learned to pray at a young age. Praying away and demanding demons to leave never become a lesson to me. Until that time.

I know God watched me and protected me. I know he was saddened at my lack of understanding. But I know he is a merciful God that sees all and knows all, and I must trust His path for me.

God lead me to a place of understanding. He watched me become brave and confront this fear of unknowing.  I am thankful to Him, for this.

Sincerely ,

TWENTY XX