When You Crave Freedom from What Weighs You Down
I’ve been camped out in the Bible in the Book of Galatians lately, filling with hope and joy as I read about the freedom Christ died to give us and our assignment to never again take on a yoke (or burden) of slavery. It seems weird to write the word “slavery” in this modern world, but there are so many things that can weigh heavy on our hearts and cause us to feel like we’re carrying burdens we were never asked to carry.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1, NIV).
The way I see it, there are three ways we can be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. We can put it back on ourselves. We can allow others to place the burden on us. Or we can unwittingly open a door and give Satan permission to put the burden on us again. None of those are good options if we truly desire to live the free, abundant life Christ died to give us.
1 —
Have you ever been forgiven or offered forgiveness to someone else and days later realized that you had picked up the offense again or begun to feel guilt, shame, and condemnation for the same sin again? Negative thoughts enter our minds, followed by grumbling (There is nothing new under the sun – the Israelites did a lot of this in the desert). Unhappiness and a lack of gratitude enter our hearts, and suddenly the joy of the LORD, second on the list of fruit of the Spirit, feels so far away we can’t imagine climbing out of the pit again.
I find it interesting that Joy is listed after Love in the fruit of the Spirit listed toward the end of Galatians 5. Joy is so important to God. The joy of the LORD is our strength! Being listed second tells me JOY is vital to a healthy spiritual life. The first fruit is love, I believe, because God is LOVE.
Have you ever experienced God’s love in a personal way? I did. When I was in the midst of a long-term abusive marriage, God appeared to me in a dream as a man one night. It was the most vivid dream I had had up to that point. The man placed his arms around me in the gentlest way and held me as I absorbed his unconditional love and acceptance, two things I rarely felt in my life up to that point. I remember not wanting to let go. That feeling has stayed with me for the past twenty years.
God has that same love for you. He has already made you free in Christ. Do not place the yoke of slavery back on yourself. Receive the freedom Christ died to give you and walk in it, confident of God’s love and grace over your life.
2 —
A yoke of slavery can also look like hoops to jump through to be saved or grow in Christ. This one I got from the footnotes in my Bible, so this is not coming directly from me, yet I have experienced this more times than I care to remember.
This type of slavery looks like:
Church programs.
Methods and plans to follow to “earn” acceptance and love.
Rules and regulations.
Boxes to check to feel worthy of walking with Christ.
The Bible is very clear about believing that Jesus is the Son of God, that he came to earth, died on a cross for our sins, was resurrected, and sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. Believe in those truths, and you are forgiven and free. All sins – past, present, and future – are forgiven as you confess each one to Christ. As a child of God, you are worthy of the abundant life Jesus promised.
Do not let anyone else place a burden or yoke of slavery on you again. You are free!
3 —
Lastly, not knowing the Word intimately can open doors for confusion allowing our hearts and minds to be deceived by lies. Even the devil knows the Word of God, and he knows how to twist it to confuse us. If we don’t spend time in the Word, we don’t know God or His will.
This is dangerous territory, as the devil is happy to fill the spiritual vacuum inside of us with his lies. He tells us things like:
You’ll never be good enough.
No one really believes you have changed.
God has no purpose for your life.
You have messed up too much for God to forgive you and give you new life.
Have any of those thoughts ever crossed your mind? If they have, Satan, the father of lies, is trying to deceive you and push you into darkness where you cannot be used by God to the extent God desires to use you. Instead, you can easily find yourself in a pit of worry, anxiety, and depression. You can begin to feel like there is no hope and make a home in the place called despair.
Thankfully, when we know God’s Truth from His Word, our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits recognize that we are more than worthy of His blessings and peace.
We are conquerors.
We are heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ.
We are part of a royal priesthood.
We each have a purpose for our lives that God is happy to share with us when we spend time with Him.
It really is that simple to hear God speak to you, and it is powerful to realize how close He truly is.
In the beginning of the Book of Revelation, John writes that the one who reads, hears, and takes to heart what is written in it will be blessed. Isn’t that wonderful to know? We are blessed simply for reading the prophecy in the Book of Revelation!
God’s truth flows through ALL His Word. How blessed would our lives be if we read the Bible every day, meditated on the Word (even in the car!), and prayed for His blessing and favor in our lives and the lives of all who believe in Him? God is faithful and true. He is not a man that He would lie. If He says we will be blessed for reading His Word, we will be blessed indeed.
I have experienced betrayal, abuse, and neglect.
I have lived with depression, anxiety, and fear.
I have lived in despair and frustration.
I have known hopelessness, sinfulness, and pain.
BUT… when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 33, everything changed. God pulled me from darkness into His light, and He has that gift for you too.
He loves us when others turn away.
He heals our wounds when others don’t believe.
He never leaves our side.
He fills us with peace, hope, and joy despite our circumstances.
If you feel like you are walking in darkness today, cry out to God. Read Galatians 5 and reclaim your freedom in Christ. He paid a high price to give that gift to you. Pray for healing, restoration, and peace. And trust that God will answer.
God is good… ALL the time.
Let go and rest in His goodness today.
If you’d like some resources to guide you toward freedom, wholeness, and gratitude, or you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift to bless someone you love, consider buying the books shown below.
Watch the short trailer for my book, Surrender, and decide for yourself if you’ve had enough of the struggle and you are ready to let go and let God carry your burdens for you.
Have a blessed autumn. It truly is my favorite time of the year!
Donna
And I have a FREE GIFT for you that I pray will bless you each day.
45 Daily Ways to Express Gratitude and Grace
Download your printable, FREE copy and be someone’s blessing today.
Discover simple, meaningful ways to cultivate a more grateful heart with this free downloadable list of 45 Daily Ways to Express Gratitude and Grace by Donna Wyland. Rooted in faith, encouragement, and everyday joy, this inspiring collection offers gentle reminders to slow down, embrace God’s blessings, love others well, and live with greater peace and purpose. Perfect for printing, journaling, or sharing with a friend who could use a little encouragement today.
