Living in Freedom

BURSTING OUT OF THE DARKNESS OF SPIRITUAL ISOLATION

The pandemic brings us all back to our box. It makes us think more about ourselves — our safety, our survival, and our plans. Though it helps us contemplate our past actions and our deepest regrets, it also pulls us away from communicating with others.

Fading into Darkness

There are moments in life when it’s hard to open up and say what’s on our minds and in our hearts. It can be difficult to embrace what’s outside our comfort zone. Courage fades into the shadows and fear takes center stage. When we give in to fear, we embrace what goes with it: isolation.

Isolation can be merely physical, but it can also be something much deeper, something spiritual. When we give in to fear, lies, shame, and guilt, we are on the fast track to spiritual isolation. To protect ourselves, we settle into our selfish ways and embrace the false security of our fragile shells. We reject God’s calling on our lives and His command to live out a dynamic faith with other people. The less of ourselves that we share with other people, the darker our lives become.

Embracing the Light

The Bible commands us to meet regularly with other Christians.¹ If we obey this command, we can overcome challenges and help each other out of the dark. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (NLT). If wrapped up in ourselves, we start to think we’re better than others because the more we insist on our independence, the lonelier and weaker we become. But if we have someone to grab our hands when we fall, we can keep each other steady. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”² In Ephesians 5:8, the Apostle Paul reminded the believers, “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” How can we walk together as children of light if we’re isolated from each other? When we reject our selfish and petty fears, we can embrace the light…together.

THE MORE WE INSIST ON OUR INDEPENDENCE THE LONELIER AND WEAKER WE BECOME.

Living in Freedom

When we’re spiritually isolated, we get weighed down with guilt, but the Bible tells us that fight is over. The battle was won when Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Grace wins… every time. God’s mercy is new every morning.³ Those things in the past that keep us from living as free can’t hold us down when we walk in the light. Nothing can separate us from God’s love, not even our guilt.⁴

What will you do with the freedom that is found in walking in the light? Will you embrace the Bible’s command to carry your brother’s burdens? It may sound heroic, but that’s what Jesus did, and Christians are called to be like Jesus. He didn’t isolate Himself while He was here on earth. He was with people of different personalities and attitudes. If we strive to be like Him, the one who “eats with tax collectors and sinners,” God will break your fragile shell, bring you out of the darkness, and into His light.⁵ Let Him set you free from the prison of your spiritual isolation.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

¹ Hebrews 10:25, ² John 8:12, ³ Lamentations 3:23, ⁴ Romans 8:39, ⁵ Mark 2:16