Living Free
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
—Galatians 5:1
Flight 1260 was gaining speed, soon to ascend into the bright blue Colorado sky. I stared out the window with a heavy heart and eyes full of tears. Though my family and I were headed on an Alaskan adventure, fear started to creep in. I could control very little of what would happen over the next several days, but still, I carried a deep sense of responsibility for it. You see, we added a spunky, little, Yorkshire Terrier to our family two and a half years ago. Marley Reign requires around-the-clock care.
Leaving for this trip meant leaving her in the hands of someone other than myself. A new schedule, a new routine, and a new home for eleven days could mean life or death. Would her care team keep up on her meds? Would she eat? As silly as this may sound, it felt scary to leave her behind because we knew there was a possibility of not being able to bring her home when we returned.
While the “what ifs” were pulling me down, God impressed a single word on my heart:
Surrender.
In that moment, God helped me see that peace, joy, and freedom are available when we surrender to Him. Freedom is the gift we receive when we turn our anxieties over to Him. Surrender may not be our first response (it certainly wasn’t mine!), but it is key to experiencing the freedom that Christ died to lavish upon us.
Freedom is found in our surrender.
When I handed my worries and concerns for Marley over to God that morning, He took my fear and worry and exchanged it for His goodness and faithfulness. I could rest in His love and enjoy the time I had been given with my family, building new memories, instead of worrying about Marley. Eleven days later, when we returned home, I was in awe that Marley Reign got along just fine without us.
We have been given a divine gift of freedom to live, which flows from who God is. Jesus set us free from paralyzing bondage when He gave His very life for us on the cross. God loves us so much! We get to live in the freedom of trusting that God is for us, not against us. He has good plans for us. His promises are to prosper us, not harm us, and to give us hope and a future.
Of course, surrender can feel risky. Letting go is hard. But the more we do it, the easier it becomes. When we begin placing our faith in Christ more quickly, we will see that constant, continuous surrender frees us to experience who God is and what He can do. When we choose to trust that God is in control, even when our flesh feels out of control, we will experience the freedom we are craving instead of the downward pull of bondage, weakness, and regret.
What do you need to surrender to Christ today? He is patiently waiting for you. He is ready to walk with you in the freedom that only He can give.