By Brenda Lemuel Briggs


 From Fear to Freedom: How I Overcame the Darkness

As a little child, I was terrified of the dark.

I don’t mean just the ordinary discomfort most kids feel when the lights go out — I mean terrified. I couldn’t stay in a room alone, let alone in a big house by myself. If no one was home, I would wait outside until someone returned before stepping in. The thought of being in the dark unsettled me to my very core.

This fear followed me through my adolescent years and even crept into my adulthood. Hospitals were especially hard. If I had to spend the night admitted, my mind would imagine things that weren’t there — shadows became shapes, silence became whispers. The nightmares I had as a child were vivid and tormenting, and I believe that’s where the fear originated from.

Deep down, I knew this fear wasn’t normal — and more importantly, it wasn’t mine to carry. I didn’t want to live my life this way, as a grown woman constantly shackled by fear. Something had to change.

So I took it to church.

I met a man of God and poured out my heart to him. I told him I couldn’t stay alone, couldn’t watch a horror movie unless someone was beside me, and couldn’t sleep after watching one unless someone else was in the room. That’s when he shared a scripture with me that changed everything:

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7

He prayed with me and told me to stand on that word. So I did.

Every day, I spoke that scripture over myself:

“I have a sound mind. I am not afraid of the dark. I am bold — as bold as a lion. I have a sound mind. I am not afraid.”

I repeated it until it began to sink in. Days turned into weeks. Weeks became months. Then one day, I noticed I had been home alone from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m, alone in the dark — and I wasn’t even afraid.

The fear had left, quietly.

One night, I was lying in bed with my window just beside me, and I heard strange sounds coming from outside. Old me would have panicked, maybe even screamed. But this time, I just hissed, turned away from the window, and slept peacefully — like a baby. That was the moment I knew: I had conquered fear.

And today; I live alone, confidently and peacefully. No fear. No panic. No nightmares.

The word works.

Comments

  1. ChuksJune 25, 2025 at 10:55 PM

    Nice piece!! For anyone still struggling with this fear, the Darkness and perceived “creatures and night terrors” lurking within it have no hold over you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ThinkBig DoBiggerJune 26, 2025 at 10:51 AM

    Nice..

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for your commentJune 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM

    Nice

    ReplyDelete

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