Growing up I faced many things that confused and frustrated me. Why did the friend who I had since first grade no longer talk to me? Why don’t I feel like I belong? Why are my parents so controlling? Why can’t I get a break in life? None of those were life changing things, but I remember if I was particularly frustrated or stressed there was always something that would bring me joy; either a nice long run or a drive, faster than I should, through the open country. There was always something about being in the open with few distractions that helped me forget my present and enjoy the possibilities. In those moments I simply felt free. To this day, whenever life gets a little crazy, things aren’t going my way, or I’m feeling overwhelmed I need to get away for a little while and be free.
Many of my student friends are in the midst of crunch time – finals, projects, family Christmas schedules, winter formals, and life change. Many of my adult friends are going through life transition, an addition to their family, a subtraction to their family, another year end with unmet expectations, an uncertain future, and the impending question at the Christmas gatherings of haven’t you met someone yet, when are you going to start having kids, or will this be the year that you move out of your parent’s basement? Life is complicated, sometimes painful, but always full of possibilities. As you navigate life I encourage you to not feel trapped or hopeless. You were meant to be free – you were meant to live free.
Galatians 5:13 is an amazing reminder of how to live out these days, especially if freedom is beginning to feel elusive to you. You were called to be free not as something you have to do, but something you get to do. It’s true. No matter what you have done, no matter what mistakes you have made, how much you have procrastinated, how much you been hurt you were called to be free. The freedom that Galatians was talking about was living a life of freedom with a relationship with Jesus. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, He has already paid for your mistakes, your lack of passion, your hurt, and He is offering for you to be free by admitting that you need help, believing that Jesus lived a perfect life and died on the cross as a payment for your (and my) sin, and commit to giving Jesus control over your life. The freedom you receive when you make that decision is the best freedom you will ever feel. If you need help in understanding a relationship with Jesus and how to start one — find a friend, a coworker, a pastor who can answer your questions.
For those of you who have a relationship with Jesus, Galatians gives us some easy steps to live a life in accelerated freedom.
- Don’t use your freedom from the consequences of sin to do whatever you want. When stress and chaos happens in your life don’t use it as an excuse to do unhealthy things — eat terrible food, don’t sleep, watch things you shouldn’t, harm yourself, lash out at people, or isolate. You are free, don’t go back to doing the things you did when guilt, shame, and hopelessness ruled your life. You will be tempted to do these things, so make a plan to stay away from them and always include people in that plan.
- Serve one another. I know it doesn’t make the most sense at first that when you are stressed out and things aren’t going your way that you should make time to serve other people. Here is what I have found – every time that I serve someone else, the issues that I am going through get smaller and smaller. Maybe this week you buy someone a Starbucks (red cup and all), make cookies and share them with your class, text your friends an encouraging text, volunteer in your community, or simply host a study break with hot chocolate and candy canes.
You were called to be free. To run a life with freedom and joy and possibility. Make a choice in this season to be free. Be contagious. Run free.