"You can't set others free while you are still captive." Chris Caine
I recently read this quote by Christine Caine and loved it. It got me thinking about being free. I've always loved the fact that when we truly know God and live surrendered lives to His word, we can walk in complete freedom. But so often in life we go through seasons, we go through storms, abuse, betrayal, crisis, and stuff happens. Sometimes the things that happen to us can leave wounds so deep that we wonder if they will ever heal. But the truth is that Jesus wants us healed and whole, He doesn't want us walking around broken and defeated. His sacrifice on the cross paid for that.
So why is it that when we know we are saved, and we believe the finished work of the cross, we walk around bound and defeated? We say we have a passion to see others receive freedom yet we are still messed up ourselves.
The bible tells us that "He was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities...and by His stripes we ARE healed."
So why do we still carry so much pain, heart ache, confusion and condemnation when He so freely took it all upon Himself, for us, at calvary?
Maybe it is because we have become comfortable in our pain? If we are not careful, we can let what has happened to us, define us. Sometimes when we experience a storm, a trauma, a crisis, a life defining time, we can be surrounded by grief, sorrow, and, sadness. The storm can overwhelm us and it is easy for us to become self focused, self absorbed and to build up a negative attitude towards others and the world around us.
I'm not by any means making light of what you have been through, I have had my own share of trauma and grief, I know what it is to be abused, to feel like the darkness of the world is suffocating me, to have people falsely accuse me and stab me in the back, I've been through sickness and pain, but, if we are to move on to fullness of life, and freedom, that Jesus offers us, we have to allow Him to lift us up out of our pain, to heal us, to set us free, completely. Personally, I think it is an insult to My Lord when I don't truly walk in the freedom and victory that He so freely, lovingly and graciously offers me.
Sometimes, without realizing it, we can try to hold on to our pain. It almost becomes a safety net, a comfort blanket. But, There comes a time when we need to let it go. And face the world again. And move on. We are stronger and better and wiser when we do.
I'm not saying to get 'just get over it'. There is a process to our pain and we have to go through that process and let our heart mend. But, what I am saying, is let's not give the rubbish that has happened to us, power over us. What God has done FOR us is way greater, powerful and stronger than what anyone has ever done TO us.
There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. Weeping may endure for the night (and the nights can feel so long, I've been there), BUT (don't you just love it when there's a but in the bible?) JOY, comes in the morning. Oh yes, joy DEFINATELY comes. And, it comes with more power than we've ever experienced before. The joy, after coming through the storm, is wonderful. When we look back and see what we've come through and how God proved Himself strong in us and around us, and through us. And how we are now safe and whole and free, the joy that brings is so liberating and fulfilling.
There are so many people in this world who need to know true freedom and victory in their lives. And I believe that God is raising up a company of people who refuse to live in defeat, who refuse to be victims, but who choose strength, who choose courage, who choose victory, who choose wholeness, who choose life. The world needs you, and me, to show them the finished work of the cross of Calvary through our lives. Lets be brave enough to let go of the lain, to face the future with excitement and expectancy, to see God turn every situation around for our good.
My prayer for my own life is that I would be so free, whole and victorious, that I can truly help those who are captives. Christine Caine is right, "You can't set others free while you are still captive."
