The Monster in the Cellar

Bible Reading: Judges 6:12-24
Author: Lori Stanley Roeleveld (Rhode Island, US)
Thursday 21 May 2026 © The Upper Room.
When I was young, I was often afraid. 

I dreaded dinnertime, when my mother sent me to the cellar to get a tin of vegetables. I was certain that a monster lurked there in the dark. Down the wobbly staircase I went, eyes wide, to find a tin of peas or sweet corn. Then I turned my back on the darkness, sure the monster would emerge to chase me up the stairs.

On the third step, I swallowed hard. 

Halfway up, my heart began to thump. 

At the tenth step, I couldn’t breathe. Finally, I dashed into the lighted kitchen, slammed the door behind me and collapsed with relief, having escaped the monster once again. ‘For goodness sake, Lori Ann!’ Mother rolled her eyes, exasperated with my drama, and then she heartlessly sent me back for something else.

Fear is a powerful emotion that affects heart rates, thoughts and actions. 

Even as adults, we struggle against fears as big as death, as small as spiders or snakes, and as common as looking foolish. God reminds us that we have the responsibility and power not to be paralysed by fear. 

If we focus our thoughts on Him, not on the monsters we imagine are stalking us, then like Gideon, we will find peace even in the midst of the battle.

Prayer: Dear Father, help us to focus our thoughts on Jesus so that we remain in control of our fears. Amen
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BSL devotions is such a fantastic resource, thank you so much for starting it up and developing the site. I am a Christian hearing person who works with deaf people and have loved the opportunity to develop my understanding of and use of christian signs through the videos. It would be great to know who all the sign interpreters are as well as those who write the devotional content. Perhaps as the website grows in the future, UK deaf and hearing Christians can contribute to the devotion content. Many thanks and blessings. Please keep the site going! HJ