Attacking AnxietySýnishorn

Galatians 5:1 is short, but it packs a punch. Paul could’ve started the fifth chapter of his letter by simply saying, “Christ has set us free.” But he decided to take it a step further and remind his readers of the reason we all were set free.

For freedom.

We’ve been set free so that we can live free.

We’ve been set free eternally so that we can live free in the here and now.

The problem is, the living free part is not happening for many of us, is it?

Why is it so difficult to learn how to live free after being set free?

Why are the stats for mental illness in the church just as bad as they are for the rest of the world?

How come a pastor who makes a living telling people about being set free can end up pulled over on the side of the road, overwhelmed and ready to end it all?

Maybe you’ve been walking with Jesus for years but still find yourself riddled with anxiety. Maybe you’ve been blessed by God in so many ways but are still crippled by depression. Maybe your life looks perfect on paper, but you still find yourself held down by hopelessness. And let’s be real: sometimes the fact that we have Jesus in our lives and still feel messed up makes it worse because we are ashamed to not be further along on our mental health journeys than we actually are.

Unfortunately, that’s how so many of us are living our lives today. We’ve felt the isolation of anxiety and the confinement of depression for so long that these things are all we know. So, true freedom feels like a pipe dream.

We’ve been set free eternally by what Jesus did for us, but we’re unable to live free and walk in the peace, joy, and confidence we’ve been given.

Listen to me—that is not God’s plan for your life.

I promise.

In fact, that’s not God’s plan for anyone. God is very clear throughout Scripture that he wants us to experience freedom—and that it is actually attainable. Remember, I want you to know exactly what God promised you so that you can start to build up your faith. Freedom for you or your loved one is actually attainable!

Prayer

Father, thank you for giving me freedom in Christ, and thank you for loving me so faithfully. Amen.