The Super Scary $6000.00 Death Threat

The day after I was interviewed on a national call-in radio show I received a death threat via email. It was addressed to me specifically and according to the man who sent it, he had been following me for ten days and was now prepared to kill me if I didn't pay him $6000.00. He told me that if I contacted the police he would have no other choice but to kill me immediately. I sat in front of my computer screen completely stunned! Stunned that someone would threaten to murder me... stunned that he claimed to have been following me... and stunned that he thought I was only worth $6000.00! (I'm laughing now, but at the time it was no laughing matter).

Obviously, we did call the police and it was determined that the death threat was most likely a scam to extort money. But still... it was unnerving to say the least. The day after I received the email, my husband left for a five day golfing trip. He had offered to cancel his plans and stay home, but the tickets were non-refundable and I knew in my heart that everything was going to be fine. So, after kissing my "protector" goodbye I went on about my business. The sheriff's department had promised to patrol my neighborhood throughout the next five days and I felt confident that all would be well. That happy feeling of confidence stayed with me right up until I turned off my bedside lamp to go to sleep that night. Then...slowly...a creepy feeling of fear began to worm its way into my thoughts, and I found myself laying there listening for sounds of danger. What was that creaking? Is that a window opening? Do I hear footsteps? Oh! I hated myself for being afraid! I finally dozed off sometime after midnight and awoke the next morning feeling frazzled and defeated.

What had happened? I had gone to bed knowing analytically that there was only a very slim chance that I was in any kind of impending danger. In fact my mom and I had joked earlier that evening that statistically I had a better chance of dying that night in a house fire or earthquake, than by murder (admittedly it was kind of a morbid conversation). By the end of our phone call we were laughing and joking and I felt assured that my daughter and I were completely safe. But while my brain accepted the truth that we were safe, obviously my emotions had not.

So, after my restless night's sleep I called my pastor and his wife for some prayer and advice. I knew I didn't want to be scared every night until my husband returned! Pastor Eric reminded me that maintaining peace in upsetting circumstances is a battle, and one which is best fought with the help of other believers. He promised that he and Peggy would pray for me, but also suggested that I ask a couple of friends to come over to pray for me later that day. He reminded me that this kind of battle is a spiritual one. Pastor Eric did what he does so well; he reminded me to continue to pursue the call of God on my life and proceed unafraid.

Praise God! I got off the phone feeling completely different about the situation! Of course this was a spiritual attack... hello! What had I been thinking? I needed to call out to God for help! I invited my two girlfriends over for lunch and after we ate, we prayed. With the help of other believers I was able to receive the peace that Christ offers. But to be honest, God's peace didn't just land on me as soon as I found myself in a troubling situation--I had to fight for it. I had to reach out for help. I had to pray and ask others to pray with me. And later that evening when the panicky feelings threatened to return, I had to make the choice to fix my eyes on God and resist the oppression. My comfort came by knowing that nothing could happen to my daughter or myself outside of God's sovereign plan for our lives.

I slept peacefully that night, and each night after until my husband returned home from his trip (then the snoring began again...). But seriously, this was a momentous experience in my life. God came through for me in a big way, proving once again His wonderful faithfulness! The day after my breakthrough a song of praise arose out of my spirit:

More real than the earth I walk on,
More real than the air I breathe,
Is Your compassionate love and tender care for me!