I've been learning a lot about freedom this year. I'm experiencing freedom from my past sin. God is so good; freedom is such a blessing.
But this summer, I've been realizing that there are areas in my life where I'm not experiencing freedom. Stink. I want to be free. Christ has set me free, and I want to experience more of that freedom.
I have had strong views on alcohol for a very long time. I thought they would never change; I knew my viewpoint and had solid reasons behind it. I decided in middle school that I would never ever consume alcohol outside of communion within the church. The Bible has lots of good verses that assured me this was a good decision. Drunkenness is not what God desires for us (don't worry - I'm not saying having a drink is the same as drunkenness... I just struggled with separating the two). But if we're honest, my choice wasn't actually based on what the Bible says. My choice to be alcohol-free was based on my past. I've been hurt by people while they were drinking. I have seen responsible drinking twice in my life (if that). I associate alcohol with irresponsible drinking. I associate alcohol with pain. I am afraid of alcohol. I didn't realize the extent of my fear until this summer. It was the first time I was around peers, my friends, drinking. And they did it responsibly. No drunkenness. But middle-school-Kayla showed up. She had an internal panic attack. And then college-graduate-Kayla realized she had a problem.
Alcohol had a hold on me. It's not an addiction; it's fear of addiction. I was afraid that I would become like those who hurt me. I was afraid that anyone who drank around me would hurt me. I was under the yoke of slavery from my fear of alcohol.
That is so far from what God desires for me!
So far. He desires for me to experience the freedom he has to offer. And I'm realizing that "Christ has truly set us free" (Galatians 5:1 NLT). In order to fully experience that freedom, I did something I never thought I would do. I had a drink. And guess what!! I didn't change. I didn't become a raging alcoholic. I'm not dependent on alcohol. My friend who had a drink with me didn't hurt me, and I didn't hurt her. Instead, I experienced freedom from my fear. Alcohol does not have a hold on me!
Only Jesus has a hold on me! I'm His. And He is mine. He's offering me and you freedom from our past, our hurts, our sins, our fears. He's offering us freedom in Him, life in Him. I'm accepting His offer. I'm letting go. I'm "alcohol-free" in the best way possible; my fears of alcohol are gone.
Maybe you don't need freedom from alcohol, but I bet you need freedom from something. So let's continue to hash it out with God. Ask Him how He's calling us to stay free in Him.
Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). Let's trust Him with that and continue to ask Him to show us that freedom.
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