Kristen Henderlong

I am dog sitting in the middle of nowhere this week.  It’s the dead of winter and the wind chill was like -15 degrees Fahrenheit today.  Brutal.

There’s something about winter… I know you know what I am talking about… depressing.  The cold, the long dark nights, the dry skin, the dead brown trees and plants all around.

So add all of those winter things to 6 days alone in the woods as a woman.  It’s quiet and lonely.  I’m on edge because everything is unfamiliar and uncertain.  The heavy winds cause a lot of noises outside.  “Was that thump from the wind? Or is someone out there?”  And, “Why are the dogs growling at the window in the pitch black?”

Creepy.

I am a firm believer that every life experience is an opportunity for growth… I can learn from these challenges.  It’s like a mind game.  It would be easy to allow fear to creep in and take over me.  But I have a choice.  Fear does not rule me… Jesus does.

Cliche? Maybe.  But it doesn’t make it any less true.  I have authority in Christ over my mind.  I cannot always control my circumstances, but I can take captive my thoughts and submit them to a higher power.

It’s interesting, though, to think about the stories I have heard of ‘fight or flight’ responses.  People do crazy things in the rush of adrenaline.  It’s the way our bodies cope in the face of fear.  God created us this way.  Amazing.

It’s ok to feel fear because when it’s necessary it can trigger that adrenaline and give us what we need to overcome some scary situations.  HOWEVER, fear does not need to unnecessarily linger in my mind causing a nauseating anxiety that steals my peace and my identity in Christ.

He is all powerful and I can tap into that power when I rest in Him.

Matthew tells a story of when “Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’  Jesus responded, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then He got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and suddenly there was a great calm” (Matt. 8:24-26).

According to the Bible, we as believers in Christ have the same authority over the powers of this world.  Why don’t we live like we do?

I am taking a stand.  I am choosing to embrace the authority and hold my thoughts captive.  I refuse to live in fear and stay there.  I would rather use fear as a tool to grow, to alert me and to prove the truth that Jesus overcomes through me.  He has already won.

Who’s with me?

Remember: You are loved.