Free Indeed: How to deal with what holds you captive
“You are free”
Three words every sound minded captive longs to hear. These words carry with them hope for a new beginning and escape from an unpleasant reality. Freedom. What a gift, what a right… what a cost.
As a people we celebrate a present reality that was once the hope of our ancestors, but it is a present reality tarnished in many ways by the pain endured in captivity. The scars remain and in some ways so does the pain… but yet the words still echo “you are free”.
Unfortunately, freedom comes in many forms, there is the physical freedom, that absence of shackles that as a Caribbean people we proudly celebrate. Then there is the freedom we cannot see, one that is abstract and immaterial but yet so powerful. Over a hundred years free, but still captive to our fears, captive to our past, captive to our struggles. We may no longer be enslaved but we are no strangers to captivity.
To this state there exists another echo that brings hope: “You can be free”. Words that light up the eyes of the one who thought they were past saving, past loving, past freedom. In Christ there is hope for a freedom that surpasses the mere absence of chains, regardless of how many people may attempt to frame it otherwise. It is present and many can testify of the hope that it has given them and continues to give them as bit by bit the shackles in their minds falls at the hand of the supernatural power of faith.
What holds you captive?
As believers, we would like to think that that initial encounter with Jesus is sufficient to free us of all that holds us bound. However, that isn’t always the case, not at all actually. We would be cruel to expect this of ourselves and of others, knowing that even in Christ our fight for freedom persists. We may still struggle with weaknesses, some too shameful to name, we may still know the darkness of depression or the hum of worry and fear coursing through us… it would be remiss of us to deny our humanness and the necessity of process. Even as we celebrate as a people the abolition of slavery, we are still going through the process of being free, years later, generations later… we still tend to the wounds. How much more are the struggles within us?
I was pondering this even in this time of celebrating freedom and the question continues to arise … are we truly free? And I’m not talking politically or socially… I’m talking about the conditions of our souls. But then hope springs, as God’s promise echoes out “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
He stands at the door of your cell, whatever it might be made of and his knuckles are knocking against its cold solid steel, as he kindly pleads with you to follow him… he knows the way out. You can be free. Yet many of us turn away from his offer, dropping to our knees and returning to the futile act of trying to dig our way through the back wall with a pen knife of self-sufficiency. I am no stranger to this place and I’m sure neither are you. It’s that place where unhealthy habits persists, where insanity rules as we continue to do the same thing over and over, expecting something different each time, its the place where hurt, bitterness and guilt festers. No one really wants to be there, but oftentimes it really feels like there’s no way out. So I want to remind us all today, that we can be free. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life… and you can be free if you follow Him.
How you ask? Well start with His word, 1. Explore the bible and get to know what it says about what you might be struggling with. 2. Surround yourself with support. Seek out others who desire freedom like you, who can help you challenge the belief that there’s no way out. Seek wise counsel. 3. Be deliberate about growing in your relationship with Christ. The more you get to know Him and love Him, is the stronger your desire will be to please Him and follow His example.
In other words you need: KNOWLEDGE. COMMUNITY & CONNECTION.
What is God telling you about that thing that holds you captive? What does His word say about that struggle, that mindset, that heart condition? If you want to get out, FOLLOW CHRIST. He knows the way, and bit by bit He can walk you to your freedom. You can be free, after all, it’s already been paid for!
Be a blessing!
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Kelly is the founder of Royalty Press United. Author of the Gemstone Royals fantasy series, Twist of Faith and Crossroads. Counseling psychologist, proud Grenadian and devoted follower of Christ.
