The Truth Shall Set You Free

It's summer. The season I should be using for a break, I've taken as a chance to grow and learn by several different means. I'm taking summer classes in order to enjoy my school year while graduating next year and I'm interning at my church, being poured into by wonderful people while gaining valuable work experience and facing growing opportunities.

One of my tasks as an intern is to attend women's bible study every Tuesday night. Now, this might have been something I would do anyway, but being able to be a more involved part of it has definitely brought more of a sense of belonging to the group. Currently, we're going through a series by Beth Moore, a petite southern speaker who has an incredible fire and passion for God, called "Breaking Free." As it's Independence Day, we recognize the freedom isn't free at all. It takes giving something up.

This last week's homework for the series was the kind of homework that you hate to love because of how directly it speaks to you, but you can't seem to stop working on because you're so involved in it that you'd feel guilty for not completing it. It's all about finding freedom by becoming free of captivity that, to be honest, I wasn't aware that I faced. We need to identify our weaknesses so we begin to rely on God as our strength.

"We tend to think our weakness is stronger than God's strength." - Beth Moore
Why? WHY do we think that? We do know that it's called a WEAKness for a reason, right? But how often to we think that our problems are bigger than God? "He can't handle what I've been through." "I've just committed too big a sin to be forgiven." "How could He still love me when I haven't shown Him love?" Sound familiar? But I know my God is almighty. He is powerful and bigger than anything I could throw at Him. I've had, and will continue to have, my fair share of issues. I've felt weak, abandoned, alone. I've had to rely on strength other than my own to get me through some really trying times. And no doubt I'll have to go through those times again. In fact, I find the times that I need help most are when I have to be honest - with myself, and with others.

Honesty is freeing. It's tough and growing and requires vulnerability. I don't like to be vulnerable. I have to have trust God and rely on Him to feel comfortable sharing the truth with people. Even just how I'm doing requires leaning on Him that nothing bad will happen in my vulnerability. When I rely on Him and am honest, I find a freedom that keeping whatever it may be inside prevents.

My challenge to you today is be honest with yourself. What's holding you back from your full potential? Self-confidence issues? Family problems? Difficulty overcoming denial of something that you know will grow you, simply because it's not comfortable? God never promised us comfortable. He promised growth.