Who's Afraid of a Monster?

 This was one of my favorite books growing up. I would do a high-pitched Grover voice, and I had the entire thing memorized. Probably drove everyone crazy, but I loved this book.


I recently found it at the grocery store, so I just had to get it. Reading through it, I fell in love all over again. In the little bit of a plot, Grover learns that there is a monster at the end of the book. If you're aware that Grover, himself, is a monster, you can see the amazing twist that's about to take place.


 Grover panics and tries desperately to keep the young, impressionable reader from turning to the end of the book and confronting the monster. In his fear, he takes elaborate measures, like building a brick wall and nailing the pages of the book together, to impede process.

I immediately think of my own fear in life - maybe not from a monster at the end of the book, but of other, more real, everyday things. There is some uncertainty in everyone's life, and there are days when I would love to panic like Grover, build a wall or nail the pages together so I can avoid the things that scare me.

But then Scripture says:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7

I don't have to be ruled by fear. That's not one of the gifts God has blessed me with. Instead, He has replaced it with power and love and a sound mind. Those are His blessings and those are the things that get me through each day. The fear is my doing - the power is God's.

If you hate it when people tell you the ending of a book you haven't read yet, please turn away now.
You've been warned.

On the last pages of this adorable story, Grover learns that they were talking about him, Grover Monster. It wasn't something scary at all ... and he had panicked for nothing.


That seems pretty typical, doesn't it? There was really nothing to be afraid of all along.

What are you afraid of at the end of your book? I pray that today you'll discover the power and love and sound mind that God has already given you to replace the fear.

Don't waste time trying to nail the pages together.
Enjoy the story as you go and give up the fear.

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