Shadow loves our walks up the road, but she is happiest when we leave the leash behind. The moment I unclip it, she bounds forward with ears flying, tail wagging, and eyes sparkling with joy. She runs, circles back, runs again, stopping only long enough to look at me as if to say, “Isn’t this the best?”

What’s striking is that she never runs too far. She’s free, but her freedom is shaped by our relationship. She knows I’ll provide for her and that she belongs with me. That trust gives her the courage to be fully herself—a dog who loves to run. She's also a dog who greets me the same after leaving for thirty minutes as she greets me when I'm gone for thirty hours...or even a week. She looks to me for a sense of satisfaction and completeness.

As I watch her, I realize how much I long to more and more consistently live from that same kind of freedom and satisfaction in Christ. Too often, I live as if I’m still tethered by two invisible leashes: fear and striving. Depending on the situation, I might try to plow forward, white knuckling my way through something, or I might shrink back and hide in fear. But when I remember who I am in Christ—fully loved, completely secure, completely provided for—joy wells up in me. Like Shadow, I can run free from unbelief, distrust, fear, and independent self-effort. I can move toward belief, trust, and dependence on Christ.

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor captured this kind of freedom when they wrote about Hudson Taylor in their book Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret:

“Here is the inward joy and power that Hudson Taylor found in Christ. What was the secret? The simple, profound secret of drawing for every need, temporal or spiritual, upon the fathomless wealth of Christ.”

That’s the invitation: to draw everything we need from Christ. Not to strive harder, not to perform better, but to live as children who belong—secure in the care of our Savior.

Paul put it this way: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Watching Shadow run without her leash reminds me: life in Christ is not about fear, but freedom. Not about scarcity, but abundance. Not about proving myself, but resting in Him.

Reflection:

• Where do you feel “leashed” by fear or striving?

• What are the fathomless riches in Christ available to you can remember for today or during this season of life? 

Here's a start:

• Unlimited grace (Romans 5:17)

• Unfailing love (Romans 8:38–39)

• All-sufficient provision (Philippians 4:19)

• Eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:3–4)

• New identity and freedom (Galatians 2:20)

       The fathomless riches in Christ are bottomless because they flow from who He is—God Himself, given for us and to us.

• What would it look like for you to live right now, in the story God has written for you, from the fathomless riches of Christ?

Jesus, thank You that You are enough for me. Teach me to trust You—to run free from fear, independent self-effort, distrust, and unbelief and free in Your love, knowing that every need, big or small, is met in You. Amen.

Next week...

I'll continue my focus on this as we consider how Jesus said in John 15:5 that He is the vine and we are the branches and that apart from abiding in Him, we can do nothing.

When I find that i'm leashed to fear or striving, I lament to God about it. Crying out to Him, making a humble complaint, being curious about what's going on inside of me, asking for help, and then moving forward in trust by His grace is a way we can hold onto the Lord in dependence on Him throughout the day.

If you'd like a one-page free printable to remind you of a Biblical way to process lamenting to God, click on the button below:

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