I was recently asked to be part of a skit.  Even though I am in front of people speaking or singing, I’m rarely asked to be in a skit.  I was told all I would need to do was sing “This Little Light of Mine” over and over – that was it.  I agreed.  The coordinator sent me the outline for the skit, just basic points, not a script or anything.  I read over it, and I actually got all teary-eyed just from reading it.  SO, of course, I got a little nervous thinking I might get emotional during the skit which was to be performed at a women’s leadership conference, which meant the attendees would be leaders in ministry.  I was to play the part of a Women’s Ministry Director.  I would be standing next to 3 other women who each represented another type of woman – a college student, a home-schooling mother and a career woman.  We would all be holding candles, and we would all be singing “This Little Light of Mine” together.  There would be a 5th woman who would play the role of Satan.  One by one, she (Satan) would accuse us and attack us while we kept trying to sing, but one by one, each woman was to stop singing and blow out her candle.  When “Satan” got to me, because I represented the Ministry Director, I was to just keep singing and not stop and not blow out my candle.  Remember, I would be in front of leaders, and the message was to leaders, which meant I was slightly intimidated right from the start. 

How many times had I sung this song as a kid?  How many times had I sung this song as an adult?  But the morning of the skit, I started to psyche myself out, worried I might sing the wrong words or mash it up with another song or something crazy like that, messing up the entire point of the skit.  We started to walk on stage singing, and I didn’t fall going up the steps, so that was a good start.  Then “Satan” came onto the stage.  I couldn’t hear what she was saying to the first woman, so it wasn’t too difficult or distracting, and I just kept on singing.  The second woman was a little closer to me, so I started hearing some of what she was being accused of.  It was a bit distracting, but not too bad so I just kept on singing.  The third woman was only standing about 3 feet from me, and I could hear what “Satan" was saying to her.  I was getting distracted, wanting to hear what was being said and wanting to look over to see her reactions.  BUT, I knew what I needed to do, so I tried harder to focus on the simple lyrics to this little song and just kept on singing.  Now it was my turn.

Me: “This little light of mine…”

Satan: “Look at this one, all holy and righteous.  You read the Bible every day and pray everyday.  You think just because you are the Ministry Director that you are safe from me?”

Me: “I’m gonna let it shine…”

Satan: “I know the thoughts that go on in your pretty little head – I know what you’ve done in the past.”

Me: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”

Satan: “YOU are no different than the rest of these ladies over here.”

Me: “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”

Satan: “You've got the same problems and same issues! You just cover them up!”

By this point, I have tears welling up in my eyes.  My heart starts beating faster, my voice starts to tremble, and since I’m the only one singing, it’s getting noticeable.  I had prepared myself for this; I know this is an actress, but now she’s saying stuff I really do think about. 

Me: “Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine…”

Then something happened.

Satan:  “You just cover them up with His Word and Prayer.  Prayer – what in the world?! What do you think that’s gonna get you? You really think He’s listening to you?”

THIS was the part I didn’t prepare for.  When I heard her say “cover them up in prayer” and then ask me, “You really think He’s listening to you?” I actually felt something change inside of me, and my voice got stronger.  It was completely unexpected!

Me:  “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE.”

“Satan” kept talking.  She kept walking around me, leaning in, pointing at me – at least I think she did.  I know she was still there, but … I honestly couldn’t hear anything she was saying.  I just kept singing.  I was focused on my song.  I was singing louder and stronger.  It was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in a really long time.  I was so focused on singing my song, hand now raised in the air, that despite being aware that she was still there, I couldn’t hear anything “Satan” was saying.

After a few minutes, I finally heard “Satan” say, “Blow that candle out."  BLOW THAT CANDLE OUT!” And I just kept singing.  “THEY’RE NOT WORTH IT – BLOW THAT CANDLE OUT!” And I just kept singing.  Loud and right in my ear she said, “BLOW THAT CANDLE OUT!” and I just kept singing.  Finally, she backed up.  I heard her say she would be back, and I could tell she walked down the steps of the stage. 

I just stood there singing. 

This was a skit, but I was so affected by it, all I could do was just keep singing … “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” 

I slowly came back to reality and finished the skit by walking over to each of the other ladies and relighting their candle; they began singing again with me, and we walked off the stage singing together.  Whew!  I wiped the tears from my face and returned to my seat.  As I sat there, I reflected on those few moments on stage.  I tried to remember what “Satan” had said to me.  I tried to remember anything that was said the last half of the skit, but I couldn’t.  I sat there in awe of what I had just experienced.  This little song had taken on a HUGE new meaning for me.  In that moment, I lived that song.  The song simply says I have a light and I need to let it shine, no matter what, let it shine.  I know it’s talking specifically about a “light,” but for me, that day, my light shining meant to just keep singing.  So I did.  I had a song (my light) and I kept singing (let it shine).  No matter what, I kept singing.  And when I began to focus on my song, the song in my heart, I could no longer hear the lies, I could no longer hear the accusations, I could no longer feel the heaviness of the attack.  Don’t get me wrong - the attack was still there, but its power was gone.  My eyes were fixed on Jesus, and I just kept singing.  

After that morning session, I was able to share my experience with the friends who were with me – who by the way, wanted to go punch “Satan” for what she said to me (I have great friends!).  As I was telling them, it was so clear to me that this is how we need to be in life.  We have an enemy!  Satan will accuse us and attack us – in many different ways, at many different times in our lives, about many different things.  He will try to distract us, he will try to discourage us, and he will try to deceive us so we will blow out our candles.  But we must let them shine!  We must just keep singing!  If we can discover our own God-given song – our unique purpose, and if we will just keep singing that song, then the voice of Satan can and will grow faint, and so will his power.

It was just a skit, but in that moment, it was my reality; and since then, it has served as a reminder to just keep singing.  Just keep being, keep doing what I’m doing, keep pursuing God, keep looking to Him for direction, keep trying to make a difference.  Despite the set-backs, despite the doubts, despite the fears, despite those who don’t understand or don’t agree, when you don’t think anyone is listening and you think nobody cares - just keep singing.  When you don’t feel adequate, when you question your ability and you question your voice, when you feel you have no reason to sing – just keep singing.  Whatever it is for you – just keep singing!  Sing it loud, and sing it strong - sing the song God has intentionally given you to sing!

I pray you find your song … and I pray that no matter what, you will just keep singing!

Challenging you to chase your best life,
Jenny

This is me – Jenny Johnson.  I’m an incredibly blessed, Louisiana-born gal in the later half of my mid-30s, married to my best friend, mother to the best kids in the world, and chasing my best life!
 
I’m actually the founder of Total Woman U (you can read more of that journey on our About Us page on this site).  I’m very passionate about helping women uncover their unique and God-given strengths and talents and then find ways to use those strengths and talents to glorify God.  For me, this is the journey of truly discovering our identity and purpose as we become all God created us to be.  Although TWU doesn’t look exactly like it did at the very beginning (back in 2000), the original vision remains the same.  I’m so thankful and honored to work with the ladies God has brought to our TWU Faculty, and I am continually blown away by all He is doing through us.  I am very excited about the vision God has given this team for TWU.  We are stepping further outside our comfort zone this year and trusting God to lead us – which is both scary and incredibly exciting! 
 
I was born in New Orleans (geaux Saints!) to incredible parents who still love each other almost as much as they each love the Lord.  My older brother, younger sister and I grew up in New Orleans, and when I was 15, we moved across the lake to Slidell, my dad’s hometown, where I finished the last 3 years of high school.  After my junior year, I started dating Slidell-native Jonathan Johnson, a Godly young man I had had my eye on (from a distance) ever since I was a little girl.  Jonathan was my cousin’s best friend, was 2 years older than I, and was a leader in our church youth group.  When we started dating, everyone around us pretty much knew we’d end up getting married. 
 
After high school, I went to LSU (geaux Tigers!) and in 1996, I married the man of my dreams – yes, that’s Jonathan.  We had our first 2 children in Baton Rouge – Jordan in 1999 and Emma in 2002.  We moved to Duluth, GA (northeast Atlanta area) where we completed our family in 2004 when Carson was born.  As much as we loved our life there, we knew God was calling us back to Louisiana.  In 2007, after 4 years away, we moved back to Louisiana to the Baton Rouge area, and a year later returned to Slidell.  Obviously a lot of life happened over those years, the great and the down right tough, and I’m sure I’ll share bits and pieces of those stories with you in my future blog posts.
 
Have you heard the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none"?  Well, that’s me!  I love finding different venues to explore and express my personality and creativity.  I’m an artist, a musician, a photographer, a jewelry-maker, a video-maker, a decorator, (most recently) a certified Christian Image Consultant; and because of TWU, I’m a graphics designer, event planner, writer, speaker, and blogger.  I’m a big sports fan and will always be a cheerleader at heart.  I love words – not that I always have the right ones, but I love using lots of them … oh, and I love ( ), … , -, and “ ” in case you can’t tell!  I have the greatest friends and a crazy-cool family - the family I was born into, the one I married into and those who married into the family.  I have a beautiful heritage of love on both sides of my family as well – a love for fun, fellowship, food, family and our Heavenly Father. 
 
I love my life!  I’m married to my high-school sweetheart and best friend, and we have 3 incredibly amazing kids.  We are living a purposed life, dedicated to our God and our family.  And as my hubby says to me, “As long as your swinging arms aren’t knocking anyone down as you run, chase your best life,” … and that’s what I’m doing.  I hope to meet you along the journey!
 
Challenging you to chase your best life,
Jenny