Devotion: Are You Truly Free?
“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free” (Psalm 118:5 NLT).
Barring fierce snowstorms or freezing cold, winter can have a quiet, breathtaking beauty in the Midwest. But in March, when spring first appears on the calendar, brutal winds still blow, temperatures drop far too low for my liking, and the white stuff isn’t shy about covering the barely thawing ground. The burdens of winter continue.
I know about winter burdens. Responsible parent that she was, my mother did all she could to ensure I wouldn’t become a human Popsicle. Yes, I did look like the little boy in A Christmas Story. I can see my pint-sized self now: bundled in a full-body, hooded, zippered snowsuit; encased in clipped-on snow mittens; grounded in rubber boots secured with elastic bands looped around shiny buttons. A long, knitted scarf covered my nose and mouth, making breathing a mere hope and prayer.
But I still shivered. Snow drifted into my boots and soaked both pairs of socks. My fingers grew stiff as frosty air and melted snowflakes seeped inside my gloves. And I usually chose to breathe over suffocation, even though it meant risking frostbitten lips.
This was no way to live. Oh, throwing snowballs, building snow people and snow forts, and sledding could still be fun. But when the constant weight of my winter gear made me want nothing more than to be unencumbered, I cried for relief from inside all that “protection.” I wanted to be free.
***
Jesus’s followers had entered a harsh, hopeless season. They’d never fully understood what Christ told them about the winter of his sacrifice and the spring of his resurrection. Now he was dead and buried—gone. Weighty sorrow wrapped their souls, longing encased their spirits, and they stayed hidden from feared oppressors. How could they ever be free?
Then the Lord appeared in the flesh to one and then to many, his Spirit alive. And he had good news of eternal importance! Yet their troubles on this earth would continue (John 16:33). They welcomed his promise of a Helper (John 14:26), bringing freedom from the lonely hiding that had imprisoned them, taking them from the dead of winter to the new life of spring. “Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT).
They could be free.
***
Are you free? What encumbers you as the celebration of Christ’s resurrection draws near? Perhaps your heart is wrapped in sorrow. Maybe the weighty protections from pain you’ve created on your own have failed, and you find yourself beaten, worn—imprisoned. Maybe guilt has encased your soul. Look to the resurrection hope of freedom granted you, both eternally and in the here and now. Look to the Spirit of the Lord.
Father, the winters of life can be cold, hard, and lonely. But you’ve given us the hope of spring. As we acknowledge your Son’s sacrifice and prepare to celebrate his glorious resurrection, help us to remember his Spirit will set us free as we follow him on this earth. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
If the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (John 8:36 NLT)
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–34 (NLT)
Reach for More
Sometimes we know very well what imprisonment we need to take to God for release, even if admitting what’s trapped us is difficult. If that’s the case for you today, remember he is always ready to listen, ready to forgive, ready to give you the hope that sets you free. You have only to trust him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT).
Other times we feel uneasy, with no clear idea why. If that’s what you face today, ask God to reveal, in his time, any burden keeping you imprisoned, and to help you accept and act on the guidance that comes from his Word and his Spirit. “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying” (Romans 12:2 NLT).
is a champion coffee drinker and a freelance editor and writer for Christian publishers and ministries. She doesn’t garden, bake, or knit, but insists playing Scrabble is exactly the same thing. Jean and her husband, Cal, live in central Indiana. They have three children (plus two who married in) and five grandchildren. She blogs at bloominwordstoo.blogspot.com.
Photograph © Aaron Burden, used with permission
