1. Recognize that you are confined.
2. Acknowledge that you are confined.
3. Want to break free from the confinement.
4. Seek help.
5. Work through the steps to become free.
I talked about the first two in the last post and this one will be focused on points three and four. Wanting freedom and seeking help. I'm sure I will have a lot more thoughts on this subject than I will actually put in this post so will probably have another one on this topic down the road as I learn more.
The third step is wanting to break free from the bondage you are in. It sounds simple but as you work through whatever is holding you in chains you will begin to realize what I mean. You will have to really desire the freedom because the process in between will probably be one of the hardest things you will do in your life. There will be times that you just want to throw the towel in and give up, sleepless nights spent sobbing in your bed, pounding your fists against the wall in frustration. As I am breaking free from all the things that hold me captive, one really hard struggle in particular I cannot tell you how many times I've wanted to just give up. To stop. Afraid of the change. Scared that I can't do it and it will be one more thing I fail at. But what keeps me going deep down inside is that desire to break free from all the things that hold me back from serving my God with radical faith, with an even deeper desire. To live life to the full extent that I was created for.
The fourth step may be the hardest out of the whole thing. Seeking help. I was so sure I could do this life on my own. I grew up learning to be independent. That I didn't need help. Somehow no matter how hard it got I could always figure it out. I didn't need anybody. All the secrets locked inside for fear people would find out, that they'd reject me, that they wouldn't love me anymore. It came very near to killing me. The thing is WE are the ones who have to make the decision to accept help. Whatever form that comes in. First and foremost is accepting Christ into our lives. Without Him we are destined for eternity in hell. When our eternity is secured in Christ He will put people in our lives to help us work through the struggles so that we can serve him with reckless abandon.
Depending on the struggle you are going through the kind of help you seek will differ. Sometimes it means trusting the opinion of somebody else instead of your own for a time. Doing what they tell you to do because they have your best interest in mind. Doing really hard things. Doing things you don't want to do and everything in you screams that you don't want to do it but you know it's the right choice. I know that in my struggles right now I had to give complete trust to my adoptive parents to make the right choices for me because I couldn't do that on my own. Slowly I am gaining that control back as I learn how to in ways that have my best interest in mind. It's meant me seeing a certified nutritionist which I won't pretend was easy, and also a christian counselor. Which scared me to death at the idea. I didn't want to. I told Daddy that I didn't want to. And I'm not sure exactly how it happened but I ended up going and the last meeting I left feeling really encouraged and good. There are simple every day choices where I stand there and debate over little things in this struggle. "Do I want to do what makes me feel good, or what honors God?" And more and more I'm choosing to throw my own wants and desires out the door because God's choices for me are so much better than my own.
I know I know that many are put off by me talking about my God so much but in the end. He is the One who is eternal. It's how we live our life for Him that matters. Everything else is temporary. And in my life when I follow and obey my God even when life sucks, battles rage and I'm struggling through the day He is still there, He is still good and I receive a deep sense of overall peace in my life that reigns above the chaos.
So please. If you are struggling. Go get that help that you need. Ask people in your life for help. Talk to people you trust. You will find that it is more than worth it. And the peace, joy and freedom that comes from letting go and letting God is absolutely amazing. For all those seeking help may God bless you. I know it's hard. I know it's tough. I know it sucks but you are strong, strong enough to carry on with Christ in you! Lean on God, trust Him! We are all in this together! May all the glory and honor and praise forever be to the One True King!! ~Kriss
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