Meet Karen Henson

I have a history of being crippled by change, and this time was no different. Fear of the unknown was winning again. Despair beckoned as I sat motionless, listening to the lies streaming through my head: you will fail; you won’t adjust; you’re all alone. School was ending, a new job beginning, and the scent of my new apartment still hung in the air. While I had experienced change before, I still had not learned how to pick myself up in these moments. Crying out, I asked God, "Why does fear still have power over me?" Romans 8:15 was my answer. The reality was that God had already picked me up, called me away from sin and fear, and led me into freedom with Him!

God’s Son, Jesus, came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died on a cross in our place. He took away our punishment of death and offered eternal life to anyone who believed. If you believe, you obtain or receive something from God. You don’t receive the bondage of slavery as though ruled by a harsh master; but you receive instead His Spirit, the very Spirit that marks you as God’s child. You receive entrance into God’s family, meaning you are no longer orphaned! You and I are chosen, adopted sons and daughters of the loving King. When sin and fear come, we are never alone; we can cry out to our Father who listens and deeply cares.

If that wasn't enough, we are also “co-heirs” with Christ (Romans 8:17). Whatever Jesus inherits, we also inherit! The very depth of God’s love is seen in His promise to love and cherish us as He does His own Son. You and I are not an afterthought. God truly values us.

Fear may come knocking, but we now have a place in God’s family, His Spirit inside of us, and the ability to cry out to Him in need. Even greater still? One day, we will eternally reign with the Risen Lord. Compared to that truth, fear doesn't stand a chance. Amen?