Living in God’s Territory

Living in God’s Territory

By Jerusha Agen

When people tell me they’re afraid to fly, I can easily diagnosis their fear and its cause. As most of them will admit, they dislike and fear flying because they have a hard time trusting the pilot. They’d rather be in a car that they’re driving.

They want to be in control.

But I’ve never minded flying. At least, the part of actually being on the plane, taking off, flying to a destination, and so on. I can easily identify that being afraid because I’m not the one flying the plane would be irrational. After all, I could die just as easily if I were in a car I was driving myself. (In fact, I’d be statistically much more likely to die in a car!)

Have you noticed how easier it is to address and excuse the fears of others’ than your own? In typical fashion for us human beings, I’m much slower to recognize and diagnosis my own fear.

Whenever I do fly through airports, I spend that entire day filled with anxiety. No, I’m not afraid of flying, but air travel is still extremely stressful for me.

First, there’s the worry about packing everything I need and not forgetting anything. Then, there’s the concern about arriving at the airport early enough to check-in and get through security.

Next, fear plagues me as I wait in the TSA line—will I be picked for a random, invasive, and humiliating search? Will they reject my carry-on because of some prohibited item I didn’t realize I’d packed? Will security take too long, and I’ll miss my flight?

Once through security, I need to find my gate. Will I have time to reach it before boarding? Time to use the restroom first or grab food?

The list of my potential worries related to air travel goes on and on.

And, yet, I’m fine on the plane. I don’t fear the flight itself. I’ve examined this odd dichotomy that I seem to have, trying to figure it out.

I think that rising into the sky itself, up above clouds and reaching unearthly, unexplored territory in a floating contraption that somehow rides on air I can’t see makes me acutely aware of how out of control I am.

More than that, I’m up near the heavens in an airplane. It feels like I’m undeniably in God’s territory. How could I not, then, realize my own finite and limited abilities and rest in His control over my airborne fate?

But clearly, I’m forgetting something when I give in to anxiety when I’m still on the ground, navigating the logistics of successful air travel.

I’m forgetting that everywhere is God’s territory.

Rising Danger

This is a lesson Bristol Bachmann, the heroine of my new suspense novel Rising Danger, has to learn, too. As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, Bristol has tasted the danger of things she can’t control. Her response is to try to control everything in her life.

As a bomb technician and handler of an explosives detection K-9, Bristol faces danger every day. But it’s a risk she believes she can control because she knows how to find and disarm a bomb. She’s in her element with bombs—that’s her territory, the part of her life she can control.

But the reality she encounters in the story is one we all encounter in our lives, sooner or later, if not every day.

We are not in control of anything that happens in our lives. Even in our comfort of driving a car versus flying on a plane, we’re kidding ourselves. We’re no more in control of our own car than we are the hundreds or thousands of other vehicles we’ll encounter as we drive—all of which could cause an accident that could lead to our injury or death.

But the surprising twist to this reality is that, rather than having more fear if we accept that we’re not in control, the key to fearlessness is embracing this truth.

It’s good—no, wonderful—news that I’m not in control. Because the One Who is in control of everything is God Himself. He’s omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and perfect. And He is good, all the time, in every way.

We cannot travel out of His territory or get too far away for Him to be in control, even if we pierce the heavens in a soaring airplane.

Whether land, sea, sky or the far reaches of outer space—whether in good times or horrific tragedy—we can be fearless as our illusion of control shatters around us.

Relinquishing that fabricated comfort frees us to live with indestructible peace. Because only then can we rest in the glorious reality that we are in the hands of our loving Father and almighty God Who is in control and will do all things for the good of those Who love Him.



My Thoughts:

I enjoyed Rising Danger for so many reasons.

  • First, it is my favourite genre to read and write: inspirational romantic suspense.
  • Second, the danger of explosives destroying the dams threatened to unleash one of my favourite conflicts – man-against-nature (in this case – water). I adore water-related plots! (No, I don’t know why, lol.)
  • Third, there is plenty of man-against-man conflict and man-against-self to keep you flipping the pages long into the night. Every time I’d planned to stop reading at the end of the chapter, the hook had me turning the page. (I blame Jerusha for the dark circles under my eyes!).

Not only does Rising Danger deliver on genre expectations, but it also contains a beautiful spiritual thread to the story. It’s refreshing to find a fictional author who shares my desire to “do all things for the glory of God” and “show nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That ranks Rising Danger as top shelf in my books.

Contest announcement!

When are you most aware you’re not in control? Do you battle anxiety or other forms of fear when things are out of your control?  Please share (and see contest rules below).

*Contest open to USA residents only.

Commenters located in the USA will be entered into a draw for a signed copy of Rising Danger. The winner will be chosen by random draw on August 5th and notified via the email address connected to your comment. You must note your country of residence in your comment and answer the question to be entered.


About Jerusha

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ.

With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and Fear Warrior who sounds the call to battle against fear in our everyday lives.

Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Get a free suspense story from Jerusha and find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting novels at www.JerushaAgen.com.

WEBSITE: http://www.JerushaAgen.com
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Meet author Erin Unger and enter to win an ebook copy of Fateful Fall

Meet author Erin Unger and enter to win an ebook copy of Fateful Fall

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Erin Unger.

She was raised in the hills of Virginia and spent years exploring abandoned houses and reading the scariest books she could find. She married young and enjoys an exciting fast-paced life with her hubby that sometimes rivals the suspense in her books (thanks to all her mostly grown children and a couple grandkids). Welcome, Erin!


I love how God can speak through writers to the readers. Sometimes writers aren’t even aware of the messages they are putting in their novels, but God loves to work in wondrous ways through books. It’s always been important to me to show how my characters learn and grow spiritually in every story. I love to put a biblical message in every book, and Fateful Fall is no different.

The main character, Ava Worthington, is facing uncertain times where she thinks she can work to prove her worth. It’s a trap into which we often fall, and it can be deadly to our spiritual growth.

It’s interesting how we try to work our way to get everything—including God’s blessings and favor. It happens so fast we often don’t even realize it. One minute we’re trusting our heavenly Father and the next we’re off on our own trying to prove to everyone that we are valuable—that what we do matters. But the harder we work, the further away our goal seems to drift.

God is good at reminding us we have to look to Him for our true worth. No number of people, metals, or commendations removes our feelings of inadequacy. Christ removes those feelings when we turn to Him, and He makes it clear how valuable we are to Him

“We have to look to God for our true worth. No number of people, metals, or commendations removes our feelings of inadequacy.” – Erin Unger

Luke 12:7, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Luke 12:24, “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the bird?”

New King James Version

I love how God gives me a gentle prod when I head down the road of works. He turns me back around and reminds me that I don’t need to do this or that to feel worthy. He has called me worthwhile.

I hope reading Fateful Fall encourages you to stop trying to work your way to favor, and instead, I hope it reminds you to put your focus on Christ. Let Him show you just how much worth you have in His eyes. When He does, an amazing peace will replace all feelings of inadequacy.

Order your copy through Pelican Book Group or through Amazon. After reading, be sure to leave a review!


Enter for your chance to win a copy of Fateful Fall

Answer the question below to be entered into a giveaway to receive an eBook copy of Fateful Fall, a Worthington Investigations Romantic Suspense.

What works do you find yourself falling into to gain worth?


CONTEST RULES:

Comments must be posted in the comment section of the blog post. Those receving this via email will need to navigate to Stacey’s blog and comment for a valid entry.

Contest opens on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 and closes Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 at midnight.

Chances of winning is dependant upon the number of entries. Winner will be chosen by random draw and notified by email within one week of the contest close.


About Fateful Fall:

Private Investigator Ava Worthington and her partners head to the mountains to solve the death of a farmer owner’s son who was discovered murdered in an outhouse on the property. Without local cowboy Cory’s protection, Ava won’t get the chance to follow leads as the killer tries to stop her investigation. But Ava’s falling for Cory against her better judgment. She should be working and not pining after a cowboy. And Cory doesn’t want a relationship. His successful career was destroyed by a woman he trusted, and he won’t make the same mistake twice. 

One suspect after another is cleared from Ava’s list until she’s sure she has the real killer targeted in her sights, but he’s hunting her, too. How will Ava and Cory find the killer and admit their love before they are buried under a mountain of secrets?


You can find Erin online at: www.erinungerwrites.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter under the handle: ErinUngerWrites

It’s a birthday, and the gifts are for you!

It’s a birthday, and the gifts are for you!

Happy book birthday Fatal Homecoming!

I am excited that Jessie and Rick’s story is finally available for you to read. Feb 5th only, the e-book is .99 cents (Amazon.com). If you send proof of purchase to freebookforpreorder@gmail.com on Feb 5th, my publisher will send you a FREE bonus short story. Paperback copies are also available.

smaller fatal homecoming

The Inspiration

Joshua 4 describes the pile of stones the Israelites built as a memorial to God. Those stones were evidence of the Lord’s provision for them. The memorial was a reminder to future generations that God had delivered his people.

In Fatal Homecoming, Jessie needed to remember God’s provision. As I wrote her story, I made my own pile of stones. They gave words to my faith and helped me remember that God is a God of action.

I set a goal to gather ‘one stone’ each day for one year. One acknowledgment of God’s goodness, His mercy, and His unchanging dependability affirmed that God hears and answers prayer.

I placed a jar on my kitchen windowsill to hold these reminders. They were a collection of answered prayers ready to remind the future generation that my God is good. These were proof of God’s action, even if His answer to my request was no. They were more than words on paper, and they were more than a pile of rocks by a river. They were a reference point. They mark where God met me and gave me a story to share so that others may also know and believe.

Story Goals

My goal in writing is to glorify God. It is my prayer that Fatal Homecoming not only entertains you but also stirs you to draw closer to the Father and trust His will for your life. I want to take this opportunity to encourage you to gather your own pile of stones and remember to believe that your God is good. Always.

Reviews Bless Authors

If you love reading Fatal Homecoming, please leave an online review.  You can order your copy here: Amazon.com or Amazon.ca

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Fatal Homecoming:

Travel writer, Jessie Berns, returns to her hometown to find answers about her brother’s suspicious death. With the help of an old friend, Detective Rick Chandler, they pursue a truth that someone is willing to do anything to keep hidden—even kill again. They uncover decades-old secrets that expose hidden sins and threaten the lifestyles of high-powered people in their small community. As they close in on the devious mastermind manipulating the town, it becomes frighteningly clear to Rick that Jessie is not the one calling the shots in her private investigation. She is the killer’s new target.