How can you go from a place of imprisonment to a place of power? From chains to freedom?
Sin has me feeling so dirty. It has me feeling like a disgusting pile of dirty rags; used up, worthless, and unwanted. I feel like everything I touch I taint, like the bleeding woman who by social status was unclean, and that everything she touched would become unclean too (Matthew 9:20-22). Oh if only I had the faith of that woman. If only I had the courage to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak to be healed. But can I really hope in the healing? Can Jesus save, even me, from my uncleanliness? Does He even want to?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11: 28-30). Am I missing something Jesus? Am I so blind to see where this easy and light burden is? Because right now it doesn’t feel so easy and not at all light. What does this verse mean? Teach me, Jesus please, because I am drowning.
Three verses I am led to as I seek wisdom on how to understand affliction as well as Gods light and easy burden/yoke: Isaiah 48:10, 1 Peter 1:7, and Proverbs 17:3. All speaking of being tested through fire. The fire of affliction purifies our hearts, removing any ungodly way within us. It strengthens our faith and sets our hearts on the path of righteousness. His burden is truly light, but oh how rebellious our hearts are making it seem more painful than it needs to be. It is in the SURRENDER that we finally start to see how easy and light His burden really is. When we surrender we finally begin to understand that He truly is good no matter the situation. We start by surrendering the lies we live on, the stubbornness to have control, the very idea of what the world tells us living is. There is a sweet release when we let go of our own understanding of things and learn to trust in His. The process is not easy since we still have an earthly body, and the sin that comes with it, to deal with. But there is a grace so real that sweeps over us through it.
This leads me to 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed… Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” So as our faith is strengthened in the fire, our hearts our positioned to hope in the eternal glory that is coming. When we surrender our lives for His purpose then we gain this eternal glory. And it is all because Jesus first surrendered His life so that we might gain life in Him.
It’s not about trusting in my own strength and abilities, but all about trusting in His. I believe that when He says He has overcome the world, He really has overcome the world and all its sinful ways including my own (John 16:33). I believe that when He says He will provide an escape from temptation, He really will provide the escape so that I may not fall into its trap (1 Corinth. 10:13). And when He says He will never leave me nor forsake me, He will never leave me nor forsake me (Joshua 1:5). He is faithful and good to His word. He doesn’t lie and He will never change (1 Samuel 15:29). He is trust worthy. He is faithful. And He is good. My God is powerful. So I WILL soar on the wings like eagles. I WILL run and not grow weary. I WILL walk and not be faint. Because I hope in a God who is mighty and able (Isaiah 40:31).
Although pain and suffering my be present in my life, there is also unconditional love through the grace of Christ. A grace that overcame the grave so no longer can the sting of death and sin touch me (Romans 6:9; 1 Corinth. 15:55-57). A grace that covers over a multitude of sins so that I can no longer be condemned (James 5:20; Romans 8:1). A grace that washes me white as snow so that I can no longer be called “unclean” (Isaiah 1:18). There is goodness in me because Christ is within me. I am enough because He was enough. I am lovely because He has made me lovely through His grace and love. No longer do I taint things, but rather by His grace I can leave traces of His love all around me. A love so great it can set any prisoner free.
theblessingsgirl 