I Am Free...

John 8:32  “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Seems like this verse is often misused by enthusiastic evangelists or just plain out of context from ordinary people trying to get some poor soul to confess to something they may or may not have done.  Today, while thinking on a situation in our lives, this simple phrase came to mind "the truth will set you free". I kind of chuckled because I am not a person that would use this scripture out of context, I don’t think I would any way.  But, then I thought, hmm..it’s true really.  The truth can set you free and not just by accepting Jesus Christ into your life.

This is what came rushing through my head today…There are other ways of “truth” setting us free.  It’s sometimes the pin that pops the happy bubble we are living in and sends us tumbling to the ground wondering what on earth just happened. It’s sometimes a truth that turns our world upside down and wounds us to the core and changes us in a way we can never see overcoming.  The truth can set us free from a lie we are a part of or are living in that we didn’t even know about, or maybe we did and thought, hoped, we were wrong.  This truth sets us free into experiencing a whirlwind of feelings, doubt about ourselves, or lives and even God. It has the ability to destroy us if we give into it or to make us stronger if we dare except this very uncomfortable realization that we are now free to see the lie for what it is, a deception .  Wow, this was a lot for my brain to comprehend in just minutes, but I believe God wants me, needs me to get this and to trust him and to stand strong in all truth, no matter how much it may hurt.. To BE courageous and face this truth, and be prepared to and willing to,  grieve a possible loss, to heal and to continue to follow him as he leads me to whatever lies ahead. If I don’t. If I give up. If I play the victim, if I don’t get back up. I’ll die.  I don’t mean physically really, but I’ll stop growing into the person God has made me to be.If I don't allow the truth to set me free, if I allow it to wound me forever,  I’ll not make it into the promised land.  The plan he had for me all along. The plan that is my destination, my real destination! Not the destination I thought. 

I am overwhelmed by THIS “truth”.  But, whatever the outcome, the truth, whatever it is, I can trust God and HIS word.  I pray I'm ready for whatever consequences come with it. God promises to be with me through the rivers and the fire  (Isaiah 43:1-3)  He hears my cries and is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:17-18)  He is near, ready to fill me with peace as I share my every request and give thanksgiving to him (Philippians 4:5-7) and he promises to give me rest when I am weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28-29) and…he gives me hope for a future (Jeremiah 29:11)  He gives me everything I need to face truth, no matter what that truth is in any situation and no matter the outcome. He IS.   

 Oh my Savior, you have completely overwhelmed me with an answer to prayer for the “truth”, but  I did not expect this. I expected an answer to our issue and you basically told me that I need to trust YOU with that truth. I pray Lord that I will lean into you more. I admit that I, too often, let fear rule in my heart and make bad choices because of it. Thank you for loving me, thank you for hearing me and ALWAYS responding to me! Always!  I am overwhelmed by your graciousness an patience with me. I truly am.  I trust you Lord with the outcome of every area of my life. My marriage, my children, my job…everything! It all belongs to you. It always has.  I love you Lord.  Amen…