In Galatians 5:1, 5, 13 the Bible says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery…For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness…For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
After some really hard years due to circumstances beyond my control, I was struggling with victim mentality on a regular basis. Anyone who has struggled with this knows the slippery slope of taking offense, feeling wounded, becoming self-defensive, and seething in self-righteous anger. It’s a hell hole. It results in emotional manipulation and mean-spiritedness. It brings on self- condemnation. It swallows you up in self-pity and helplessness, until you are stuck in a dark place for hours or even days. It’s hard to believe that it’s hard to resist. Who would agree to subject themselves to that? I was so tired of it. But I couldn’t seem to escape the ache of perceived betrayals, or evade the “loss of trust” triggers that would flare up like a heart attack. I was failing to let the peace of Christ rule in my heart like Colossians 3:15 talks about.
And then Christ set me free – healed and delivered from a chronic spiritual illness. This story did not take place overnight. It was not a clear cut path. There were victories and setbacks. There were Scriptures cleansing and strengthening my heart, soul, and mind – slowly transforming mindsets and perspectives, rebuilding confidence in God’s power to protect me. There was a scene from The Shack that displayed fair warning of the peril that surrounds someone sympathizing with dark oily pain, as if powerless to protest. There were refining conversations with family members and friends – and many prayers. Slowly came the renewed strength to stop surrendering to a victim mentality, to believe that others were not meaning to hurt me, to lay aside my own priorities to learn what was important to others, and to hide securely with my Heavenly Father when threatened…with one lingering exception.
One repetitive scenario was always sure to rob my peace…because maybe, just maybe, the devil was going to win this time. This mental and emotional taunting refused to let go, evidence of a stronghold tethered to idolatry. When God is not the center of our identity, our worship, our security, our trust – we are susceptible to the oppression of outlandish lies and terrifying threats.
So God sent a friend, gifted in deliverance ministry. She took time out of her busy schedule to meet me at a park on a hill, during an evening when God chose to display His grandeur through swirling storm clouds and a spectacular circular sunset. We walked the paths and talked, sat in the picnic shelter and shared, ran through the rain and rushed into her car TO PRAY. Miraculously, in those divinely appointed moments, I was strengthened by God to vanquish the enemy’s lie and victoriously appropriate God’s comforting truth. We know things in our heads, but I needed healing in a fearful heart. So Jesus delivered!
We finished our fellowship with praise and wonder under dazzling skies lit by sun swords. Even more when the storm clouds lifted, leaving a gift from God – a Bald Eagle hovering in the heavens. (Does God do that sort of thing? Yes!) God had been speaking to me about freedom for almost a year then – since the day our reunited family had rented a pontoon boat to cruise Lake Murray in our new home state. We had observed a Bald Eagle and eaten at Liberty on the Lake. In the fall, God had sent me soaring toward a renewed teaching certificate. And the next summer, He blew me away when our son married the love of his life in Liberty County, in the town of McComb, where a Bald Eagle stood watch for a moment on the road to the venue.
Liberty is better than slavery any day. Refuse the shackles of victim mentality. Trust Jesus to lead the way to freedom!