What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. –Romans 8:31, 37-39
I stood ready on top of the kitchen counter in position. My mom, broom in hand, patiently waited at the pantry door. I screeched, “There it is!” I screamed and pointed to the tiny mouse running in circles around our kitchen, while she shrieked and swatted the floor with a broom. Chairs knocked over, pantry emptied, room in chaos, we chased this little mouse through the kitchen and the rest of the house. This mouse had my mom and me so worked up, we could hardly think straight. We were operating out of an attitude of fear, not power and strength. Later, we sat around and laughed at ourselves. How could something so tiny get us so worked up and frightened?
Cartoons and movies have depicted this scene for ages: men and women jumping onto tables and chairs to hide from a mouse. Reflecting on that night in the kitchen, I started to wonder, how often do I make a problem bigger than it ought to be? In the moment of choice between strength or fear, too often, I choose fear.
The Apostle Paul assures us that through Christ we are more than conquerors. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. So regardless of the size of the challenges we face — from a mouse to a giant — we don’t have to fear. Like David, we do not need to be afraid of the Goliaths we may encounter. We have all we need when we have Jesus. We can stand tall, prepared and ready to work through life’s problems and struggles with the power and strength given to us in Jesus.
GOING DEEPER:
1. How can you choose to conquer fear in your life?
2. What holds you back and keeps you afraid? How can you work to find the strength you need in Jesus?
FURTHER READING:
1 Samuel 17:50; Psalm 94:17-19, 118:6-8; Philippians 4:12-13