When I was in the hardest season of my counseling and healing journey, the Lord used natural circumstances to give me a break from the work of ministry. I’d previously been heavily involved at my church, attending four or five times a week leading youth ministry, serving at worship rehearsal, leading discipleship classes and supporting Sunday services. (Some might try to say I was a hypocrite all those years and back then, I certainly felt that way. Real grace in Jesus has a different label for someone who was trying to change: deeply loved daughter.) Now, I was in the process of finding a new church and enjoying the first time guest experience again.
At the same time, I was neck deep in counseling, addressing the behaviors I’d struggled with for decades like pornography and masturbation. I painstakingly examined my childhood and the ways sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment shaped my brokenness.
After the sexual acting out stopped, I had the hard task of addressing the socially acceptable behaviors like perfectionism and control. To some Christians, perfectionism can look a lot like passion for Jesus and excellence in ministry. The truth is, if you’re driven by these things, it is religion and works. Whatever you call it, it’s as real as any bondage I’ve seen. Eventually, I experienced fewer days in my brokenness and more days in real freedom.
Nothing tastes as sweet as freedom in Jesus.
Seeing Through A New Lens
As I returned to church life, ministry, and re-engaging with old and new relationships, I began seeing a familiar pattern in others, especially in mature believers. Perfectionism. Control. The need to legislate righteousness. The tendency to turn personal convictions into moral rules.
I recognized those patterns because I had lived them. I began to wonder how many people are serving God sincerely while still carrying unhealed wounds beneath the surface.
The Father has never desired His people to live in bondage. Bondage is not "suffering for Christ." Bondage is what compelled Jesus to go to the cross. Bondage is an enemy of God, an enemy of His Kingdom. God hates bondage.
Sin is bondage. Sexual addiction is bondage. Panic attacks are bondage. Demonic oppression is bondage. Hiding is bondage. Self-condemnation is bondage. Perfectionism is bondage. Your emotions were given to help you, not to enslave you. When they do, that is bondage too.
Things that are bound don't tie themselves up. Someone tied them. And it's time to go on a journey with Jesus to find out who and why. You can be free from the torment. There is absolutely hope. He did it for me, and I promise you, He deeply wants to do it for you. You can go from "I can't" to "I did." Because I did.
One Next Step
If this landed with you and you want to learn to see with a new lens, reach out today for a free consultation. I’d love to get to know you and walk with you on your journey of freedom.