Bible Reading: Matthew 10:29-31

"But I'm so scared!" Rebecca's little sister cried.

"I'm sorry, Cara, but you have to go. You'd better get your shoes on. We leave in fifteen minutes," Rebecca answered.

As Cara pulled on her clogs, she asked, "Rebecca, will it hurt very bad?"

"Well, it will hurt some. When the dentist pulls a tooth, it hurts for a little while. But the pain won't last very long," Rebecca tried to assure her sister.

Tears filled Cara's eyes. "Rebecca, I'm really, really scared. Scareder than you've ever been!"

Rebecca sat down on the bed. "Cara, do you want to know what you can do to help you not be so afraid?" When Cara nodded, she went on. "Whenever we're afraid, we can trust the Lord. We can pray He will help us remember that He's with us and that we can trust Him!"

Cara looked up at her sister. "I thought we prayed to God for big things like when someone is really sick or dying. Are you sure He'd hear my prayer about having a little tooth pulled?"

"God hears every prayer," Rebecca said as she took her Bible from her desk. "Matthew 10:29-31 says, 'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.' See, Jesus told us that God even cares for the sparrows. And you're way more important than a sparrow, Cara! God gave His own Son so you could be saved and belong to Him. He loves you and wants you to go to Him for help when you're afraid."

"So God hears even the tiniest prayer?"

"Yes!"

"All right," Cara said. "I'll pray and ask God to help me."

Cara knelt down beside Rebecca's bed. "Dear God," she prayed, "please help me not be so scared when I go to the dentist. Please help it not hurt a lot. Thank you that I'm worth more than a sparrow. Amen."

Just then Mom called, "Girls! It's time to go!"

Cara jumped up and turned to Rebecca. "I'm so glad God cares about me!"

"Me too!" Rebecca answered.

-Evie Newton