Let Freedom Ring

When I’m surrounded by American flags and the excitement of the Fourth of July celebrations, I struggle to match the energy others experience on this day of independence. The way others celebrate freedom in this specific context often leaves me feeling overwhelmed with grief. Unlike so many, our country has not provided me with the freedom I most desire.

With all due respect and gratitude for many freedoms I have because so many have fought and died for them over the years, there is another deep freedom that can’t be found in people, governments, or institutions. The parades, fireworks (or drone shows in our case), and flag-centric barbecues don’t capture the more complicated relief from oppression I have experienced.

Perhaps my grief comes from a longing to truly feel free myself, but I think most of it comes from the way I see others seem content in the limited freedom they are experiencing without knowing the depth of what they could experience. We don’t have to be rescuers or rely on a country to dictate if we are free. There are so many who are unaware of the antidote to their desire to be free.

In the past, I have had a desire to bring freedom to myself and others. For my husband, I want to see him freed of the bondage of needing to provide more. I long to see my children feel valued and treasured in a way that allows them to be rid of their trauma. The more I want this for those I know and love, the more I want the same for my friends, for everyone I encounter.

The more I experience this desire to provide freedom for others, the more I have realized this is something many of us regularly crave: we want to be the super hero, the provider, the problem solver. Good news is, none of us are alone in the desire to free others from their bondage. This desire to be the savior for others - to be God for others in a sense - is the root of our discord with God. Thankfully, God knew we would experience this dissonance. To provide us with encouragement and a desire to persevere, all over scripture there are many stories of those who follow God that attempted to rescue those around them, too. These Bible heroes also desired to bring healing and solve the problems of those they loved.

Think of Sarai (Sarah), who was trying to figure out how to bring God’s covenant to fruition for her husband. Instead of waiting on God’s intervention, she swooped in. She invited her servant to sleep with her husband, Abraham, so he could have the child God promised him. The child born to their servant was not the child God had promised.

Years later, even though she laughed at God’s promise to give her children in her old age, He provided her a biological son. Through their son, Isaac, her family became an integral part of the way God was known for generations. Our God is still known as the God of Abraham (and Sarah) even today. (See Genesis 15-21 for more details on this incredible story of God’s faithfulness.)

A few days after I was reminded about the story of Sarai, Abraham, and Isaac, I read this story in Luke 5 about one of the men who followed Jesus, named Simon (who was eventually given the name Peter). He eventually became a leader in the early church community.

In the beginning of Luke 5, Jesus was on Simon’s boat, speaking to the crowd on the shore that had come to hear Him speak after hearing that He had healed many from demons, sicknesses, and diseases. Jesus instructs Simon what to do next.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

Luke 5:4-7, NLT

Simon wanted to trust that Jesus has good intentions when He told him to toss out his nets into deeper waters. He, along with his buddies, had been fishing the night before with no avail. After explaining this to Jesus, sharing his hesitation and uncertainty that anything would be different this time, he chose to obey. Perhaps he obeyed Jesus because when Simon’s mother-in-law was very ill Jesus miraculously healed her (see Luke 4). Simon likely saw Him heal her and many others, and chose to obey Him out of fear, to prove nothing would happen, or maybe out of hope.

Regardless of the reason Simon obeyed, the results were astounding. Because he followed Jesus’ instructions, even though they seemed ridiculous, there were so many fish in the net that Simon had to call others to help him gather all of them. Although, Simon’s response to the incredible amount of fish that he was provided may be surprising.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Luke 5:8-10, NLT

In his gratitude, Simon is humbled and feels unworthy of Jesus’ involvement in his life. He was shocked that Jesus would allow him - a sinner - to be in the presence of someone so incredible, generous, and powerful.

In a similar way, God has brought me to the same gratitude. I have also felt unworthy to be a part of what He is doing. Yet, despite my unbelief, my fears, my sinfulness, and my desire to solve the worlds problems on my own, He has provided paths towards healing that take my breath away. As He provided for Sarai and Simon, he has provided for me and given me the ability to see Him at work.

Photo by energepic.com

Like the waters of the Red Sea opened to display a path no one expected to appear, God has moved in ways that show He was at work and able to do things I can’t even imagine possible. In our personal lives, in our marriage, in the lives of our children, and in those He has brought into our community, God has displayed his faithfulness to provide in ways we couldn’t have even prayed for. The things He’s given us have been what we have needed, not what we desired.

His consistent intervention in our lives has given Ben and I the freedom to be beneficiaries of His provisions. When we want to be benefactors, He gently reminds us of our role. We are among those receiving grace, not handing it out. Our freedom is not rooted in our country, but in our ability to be participants, standing ready to move and try things we don’t expect to work and see God do the impossible.

I have many stories to share about this, which I promise to share in the coming months, but know that if the freedom this country offers doesn’t feel sufficient, that makes sense. You were not made to feel free in a physical, national sense. There is a freedom that is much deeper, that calls us to watch and notice God at work through us, not trust our own understanding or wisdom.

Sitting in awe of the miraculous ways God works in and through us is where true freedom is. We are free, but not because of our country’s independence, but because of our God who is merciful and generous. He allows us to participate in His work despite our unworthiness. We are worthy because He says we are.

Therefore, when our unbelief appears, this will not stop us from casting out our nets again and again at His command. Like Sarai and Simon, we can listen to His voice and then go where He commands. If we obey His commands, even with some laughter or hesitation, we can see He is on the move.

Join Him in His merciful, loving work and experience true freedom.