Slaying the Dragon

There is a dragon.

It is very real.
It is black, dark, menacing.
It stores its strength in its legs, the muscles quivering with its beastly stance.
Its far-reaching arms end as claws, that poke, prod, and gouge.
The wingspan casts long, cold shadows as it displays its dominance.
The sinewy neck stretches out and branches off to hold several heads. Each with a snake tongue which snaps at its victims, to taunt.

This is the kind of dragon that would send me fleeing. Hiding, in fact. Shrinking back and quivering.
This is the kind of dragon that has cornered people, keeping them from their calling and their purpose.

Each head wears a label ~
Fear.
Insecurity.
Feelings of inadequacy.
Lack.
Doubt.
Low confidence.
Anxiety.
Unworthiness.

Have you ever met this dragon?
He comes and attacks each one of us to some degree, at some point in life.
It is interesting, however, that some people meet this dragon and are taken captive. Held in its clutches, chained in its lair.
Others meet this dragon and are able to crush and defeat.
And there is the conundrum.
Why are some continuously held, while others slay the dragon?

I believe it lines up with knowing our purpose.
Knowing our identity.
Knowing our weapons, and how to use them.
And ultimately, knowing the Commander-in-Chief.

Knowing Him involves listening. Being still and listening to the Commander-in-Chief. As the One who is in supreme command of the army, He knows the plan. He knows our gifts, our abilities, our strengths, our weaknesses. And He knows how to use them.

So we can trust.

We can trust that even when we feel fear in the shadows, He sees victory.
When we feel unworthy of the mission, He smiles and tells us He has a plan.
When we feel we can't, He knows we are postured to be enabled.
When we feel that the sword is too heavy to fight with, He gives us the sword that is light.

When one wields this sword, it cuts in the forward stroke and then in the backstroke. A dangerous weapon in the hands of a soldier who knows how to use it. He must have a firm grip on the hilt, feet firm and ready, helmet in place, the shield positioned, the belt and breastplate secured.

So with knocking knees, we take up that sword. We stand firm, knowing the Commander-in-Chief is before us, beside us, behind us. And our knees steady themselves, our courage is bolstered.

"The Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind."
(Is. 52:12, NLT)

Trusting in the Commander-in-Chief is having hope and faith in someone greater than yourself.
In someone greater than that multi-headed, debilitating dragon.

"Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4, KJV)