It has almost been a year of walking on eggshells and gently trying to dance around a subject because I didn’t have the strength within me to enter in.  The painful result of trying to go there and watching my words fall flat between each and every time.  I get tired of saying them when saying them doesn’t seem to matter.   So, I hold my breath like I hold my tongue and I haven’t been able to let it out.

Until now

It’s the moment when my side aches because it longs for fresh air.  I can’t take it any longer.  I gasp, sucking in the fresh air.

I breathe.  Inhale, exhale and with each consecutive breath the sense of deprivation withers from within.

The words don’t matter anymore.    Do I still think they are worthy to be said?  Yes.  Realistically, however, I know it really doesn’t make a difference now.  Lines have been drawn and crossed.  And frankly, I still don’t think they would be heard so off into the wind they go.

Released

The Israelites were freed from Egyptian slavery.  In the process of their release they witnessed the hand of God move supernaturally on their behalf:

The plagues

The Passover

The parting of the Red Sea

Yet, they still grumbled, doubted and feared in their liberty.  Their freedom wasn’t what they envisioned, not necessarily how they planned.  So, they came out of Egypt but “egypt” remained in them.

I shake my head in wonder but know in truth, we – I – have done the same.

We struggle to trust the One who has given us life and has for us a design.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We find ourselves trusting our plan – even believing at times it is His.  Then when the menu changes and itinerary looks different from what we expect.  We fight in our own strength to make it work.

Sadly, in the midst of this struggle, we inevitably lose sight of His hand and His will.  We spend too much time looking at the ground around us trying to get our footing where our footing isn’t meant to be found.

Sometimes the battle within is tougher than the battle without.

Pride has us holding tight – fighting hard.  Pride has us revisiting time and again the issue looking for a different answer.  Pride has us searching for answers for all the wrong questions.  Pride has us holding on to dreams and visions that weren’t meant to be ours in the first place.  Pride causes us to forget His hand and to seek our own.

Have you been there?  I know I have.

We fight so hard.

Yet, our boldness in battle cannot be established in our own strength and for our own expectations but rather in the faithfulness of our God and His plan.  I read this quote this week, “Sometimes God breaks off the purposes of your heart so that He can bring you into His.” (Bob Sorge).  Breaking isn’t easy but at times it is necessary.  Sometimes it is the only way we will let go.  If we fight for what isn’t meant to be, we lose.  Losing is never easy but even less when you fight hard.

In defeat we retreat, seeking safety in what we have known.  It is a retreat not of faith but of fear.  It is the “egypt” that holds tight.

Out of all the Israelites that left Egypt, only two from the exodus entered into the Promised Land.  The two who wholly followed; the two who trusted God’s plan rather than their own and for that they entered in.  Two out of many doesn’t make it sound easy.  It is not.  If faith were easy would it really be faith?

Yet faith is what we need to trust His hand in the new and the unknown.  Faith is what gives us the ability to release our hopes and dreams.  Faith strengthens us to humbly submit to His purpose and plan.  Faith always moves forward even when the journey isn’t quite what we thought it would be.  Faith allows us to trust when we can’t see what is ahead.  Faith allows us to stop fighting a losing battle and enjoy the victory He has already given.

Faith in Him is the true exodus where our complete freedom is found.

I am no longer a slave to sin.  I am a child of God.

I am no longer a slave to what others think.  I am a child of God.

I am no long a slave to fear.  I am a child of God.

I am no longer a slave to lies.  I am a child of God.

I am no longer a slave disappointment.  I am a child of God.

I am no longer a slave to comparison.  I am a child of God.

I am no longer a slave to bitterness.  I am a child of God.

I am no longer a slave…I am a child of God.

We shackle ourselves to too many things.  We claim it is our “personality”.  We claim it is “hereditary”.  We claim it is “who I am”.  We claim it is “where we are supposed to be”.

We are prisoners of our own choosing.  Shackled and yet, holding the key of freedom in our hands.

Unlock the chains.  Let them fall.

Whatever it is that weighs you down.  Release it.

Stop holding onto things – to people – to dreams that leave you empty.

Begin to believe who you are in Christ.

You are God’s:

Possession

Child

Workmanship

Friend

Chosen

Witness

Beloved

Jewels

You have been:

Set free

Forgiven

Adopted

You are:

Complete in Him

Loved eternally

Light in the darkness

His sheep

Secure

Healed

Sheltered

Hidden

You have:

All things in Christ

A living hope

An anchor for your soul

Authority

Boldness and access

Peace

Mind of Chirst

Power

You can:

Do all things through Christ

Find mercy and grace

Come boldly to the throne

Quench the fiery darts

Declare liberty to captives

Pray always and everywhere

 

You are a child of God.