Lessons In the Waiting: Freedom

When you think of Spring 2020 words like pandemic, quarantine, Covid 19 and toilet paper hoarding might come to mind. Yet through all the chaos and uncertainty there are many lessons to be learned in the waiting. This time is a gift from our loving God.

In the last few months we have experienced some of our freedoms being taken away. We haven’t been able to go where we want, when we want too and we have had restrictions placed on us in ways that we have never experienced before.

At first, some seemed like nice options and after time have turned out to be less enjoyable than expected. I spoke with a representative from a tour company the other day who said she was excited that her company was transitioning everyone to work from home. She had always thought that would be a great experience. After the first two weeks she was ready to be back at the office. What she thought would be great turned out to be a place of even less freedom for her.

It started me thinking about the freedoms that we have in Christ. God created us with free agency to choose for ourselves. When we look at what the world offers it looks good from the outside but in time we find that we become a prisoner to the unseen demands it requires.

I met another lady last week on the golf course that said she had learned just how much time and money she spent on things that were trivial through the quarantine. Being unable to keep her usual routine she found that she didn’t need all those material things and she now had extra time to focus on what really matters.

Throughout this whole ordeal there has been one constant that we have complete control over; our attitude. How we choose to view our circumstances whether at home or in an office is completely up to us.

Look at the example of Paul and Silas:

After they were severely beaten, they were thrown into prison and the jailer was commanded to guard them securely.  So the jailer placed them in the innermost cell of the prison and had their feet bound and chained. Paul and Silas, undaunted, prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship. (Acts 16: 23-25)

Even though they were prisoners in horrible circumstances they were free to Praise God and they did, which resulted in the the jailer and his families’ salvation.

Wherever you are right now, as a believer you are free! Because where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! What are your choosing to do with your freedom? Are you using your freedom to show others hope? Are you using your freedom to bring glory to God?

This season of waiting has been a blessing. We’ve learned that we can live with less and that time with others is what really matters. As the restrictions are lifting I pray that we will remember what real freedom is all about. Freedom to live in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and in that relationship we will bring glory to Him by loving others.

My Prayer

Father, thank you for this season of less. For showing us what really matters and giving us freedom beyond anything that this world can offer. I pray that we use this freedom to honor and glorify you Lord. Thank you for Your grace and Love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

Galatians 5: 1

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