3 Scriptures and Songs for When Your Child is Afraid of the Dark

Have you ever been afraid of something simply because you did not understand it? Fear of the unknown is a common experience that can escalate quickly into gripping anxiety. When we cannot foresee an outcome, it leaves our imaginations running wild with countless scenarios. This is especially true for our children. If your child is afraid of the dark, they are not alone, and neither are you. It’s estimated that 75% of children and 11% of adults are afraid of the dark. Uncertainty in recent years has intensified this feeling in many people.

God created our children with incredible imaginations, yet sometimes the ideas, images, and concepts they conjure up can work against them. This is especially true at nighttime. Their imaginations are robust, and their understanding of the world is limited. In the darkness, shapes and shadows distort into countless threats. Noises in the night become enemies in their minds. You can help your child funnel their thoughts and sift them through the truth of God’s Word. When your child is afraid of the dark, read the following promises from Scripture and play these songs over them for a spiritually protected night’s sleep.

3 Scriptures and Songs for When Your Child is Afraid of the Dark

01. God Embraces Us

“So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with My right hand that saves you.” Isaiah 41:10

You can explain to your child that when this verse says God “supports” us, it means He holds us. The Hebrew root word means “grasp.” We don’t have to be afraid of the dark because God embraces us in a big hug as we sleep. Wrapped in His strong arms, we are safe.

Listen with your child to “I Am Here” from “Hidden In My Heart, Volume II.”

Lyrics:

“I will strengthen you, I will help you

Uphold you with My steady hand

For I am here, I am your God, I am here

So take courage for I am with you

I will never let you go”

02. God’s Light Defeats Darkness

“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” John 1:5

Children love stories. They understand every great story has a villain and a hero. Share with your child that God has written the stories of our lives, and He is the hero. His light wins. When our rooms or the world are dark, God’s light is stronger and shines in our hearts, defeating every scary thought and feeling.

Listen with your child to “I Will Never Leave You” from “Hidden In My Heart, Volume I.”

Lyrics:

“I will wrap My arms around you

Know that I am here

And I will keep you safe and sound

Through the darkness that surrounds

I will never leave you”

03. God Is Always Watching Over Us

“I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.” Psalm 3:5

Do you remember as a child having days that stretched out and seemed endless while others passed in the blink of an eye? A child’s sense of time is not solid. They’re often surprised to find out they sleep for a considerable portion of their lives. Draw a circle on a piece of paper and divide it into thirds. Shade in one slice, and explain to your child that we sleep for about a third of our lives, yet God never sleeps. He is constantly watching over us. He never blinks nor looks away. He is standing guard to protect our minds, hearts, and bodies.

Listen with your child to “Watching Over You” from “Hidden In My Heart, Volume IV.”

Lyrics:

“I am watching over you

Ever watching over you

With you through the night

And by the light of day

I am watching over you

Ever watching over you

Never will I sleep

You’re Mine to keep always”