In this together- Help for our hurts, hang ups and habits

What "Finding Freedom" Looks Like

There comes a point in all our lives that we become aware of what I call our "balls and chains."

What do I mean by this?

Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines it as this:

"Something that limits one's freedom or ability to do things."

For some that ball chain could be drugs, or pornography, or an eating disorder. Or maybe yours isn't "that intense." Maybe yours might just be a bad habit that you have not been able to break from that keeps pulling you back into unhealthy behaviors or causes you to make bad decisions.

When you think about the pain you may be experiencing, can you identify where the root of that pain began?

Was it from an unhealthy relationship or a difficult upbringing? Maybe it was from someone outside your family, or a health concern you are facing. Or maybe it comes from choices you have made that have brought you to where you are today- broken and in need of healing.

The first step of understanding where the root of our pain began is to understand there is a name for it and a place and time where all that suffering began-

To find the answers to help us find healing and begin moving forward, we need to go back to the beginning.

In Genesis 3:14–19 we find the root of our pain being described as a Curse given over all creation by the Creator of all things because of the disobedience…

Sometimes the ache in my heart is so heavy, reminding me of people and things I have loved and lost.

Anyone else feel like this?

You know the routine; you push yourself past your painful circumstances, put that smile on and go on with life, because you have to and you need to.

But some nights that pain creeps up on you and you fall asleep with tears running down your face; hiding from others because you have had to be strong for so long.

It’s tough to see where God is taking us sometimes isn’t it.

It may feel like a desert at times, or day at a sunny beach with laughter and ice cream cones; or it may feel like a long, cold, gray, foggy season of life where you just don’t know where you are going - other than living in auto pilot.

Have you ever heard someone say, “Just be you”…

What does that mean?

Is that easy to do?

Galatians 1:10 “Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God?

Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.”

It’s hard to "Just be you..."