How To Enjoy More Freedom Even With Suffering

Freedom.

It’s a word that has pounded through my brain all year and also the spiritual theme of the upcoming Miller’s Creek novel, STILL I WILL FOLLOW.

The main character in the story, Bella, is struggling to understand why she’s suffering for following God back to Miller’s Creek, the one place to which she never intended to return. Though it’s been years since her wild child days in high school, the townspeople, including work colleagues, the mayor of Miller’s Creek, and even her father, seem bent on calling up the past and condemning her for it in the present.

To make matters worse, she senses that same word “freedom” as the reason God led her back to Miller’s Creek in the first place. But how can she experience freedom when everyone is intent on keeping her chained to the past?

Freedom is usually a word we associate with democracy and prosperity, but in all truth, the freedom God gives us can be experienced and enjoyed even in the midst of suffering.

How?

Well, let’s use this post to explore that very thing.

How To Enjoy More Freedom, Even In Suffering. Find out how here:
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HOW TO ENJOY FREEDOM

While freedom is very closely associated with democracy, for believers in Jesus there is a higher freedom. Through what Jesus did on the cross, we have freedom from sin and death.

Sin is our biggest problem as human beings. It’s a deadly disease with which we’re all infected. The only cure is believing and accepting what Jesus did for us. In the greatest exchange of all time, He took our sin and gave us His righteousness. Mind-boggling, isn’t it?

Death is our biggest fear as human beings. Why? Because it’s final, the end, no more. Humans also have absolutely no control over death. It’s timing is unknown to us. And it’s the greatest unknown for many, which induces even more fear. But once again, through God resurrecting Jesus from the grave, we can have victory over even our greatest fear.

So exactly how does all this bring us freedom?

Without Jesus, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave, we are enslaved to our sin and to death with absolutely no hope of freedom.

Here are some verses which underscore our freedom through Christ:

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. -John 8:36

But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. -Galatians 3:22

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -Galatians 5:1

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. -Ephesian 3:12

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” -Acts 13:38-39

Now here’s the clincher: Because of our freedom in and through Christ, we are also freed from worry and anxiety. The cares of this life should truly have no hold over us, because our hope and life is completely bound up in Him as our Savior and Redeemer.

FREEDOM – EVEN WITH MORE SUFFERING

I have a feeling that I’ve already lost some of you on this section of the post.

Suffering very much feels like chains that bind us, doesn’t it? It’s not something we easily escape, no matter what form that suffering takes. It could be suffering due to illness, unemployment, homelessness, financial woes, persecution, or a whole host of other reasons.

Like Job, sometimes our suffering seems to come all at once, as if one thing wasn’t enough to plow us under.

Like Joseph, suffering can even come in the form of betrayal by the hands of those we love.

But I’m here to tell you this: Even in the most intense times of human suffering, those who claim Christ as their Lord and Savior can experience and enjoy freedom.

Paul puts it this way:

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ,you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. -1 Peter 4:12-14

Jesus promised that His followers would experience trouble, tribulation, and suffering because of Him. So when we experience that suffering, we can rejoice. We are blessed. The persecution or difficult times are proof that we belong to Him.

And because He has conquered sin and death, we can experience the freedom of knowing that there is an end in sight even while suffering.

The apostle Paul knew this. To the church in Rome, he expressed it this way:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. -Romans 8:18

The story of Joseph reveals that suffering can indeed be the work of God in our lives to accomplish His purposes. Remember what Joseph told his brothers?

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. -Genesis 50:20

Joseph had come to experience firsthand the freedom we can have in suffering. Through the story of Joseph, God proved that He never wastes one hurt we endure.

Our God doesn’t change. Though we might not understand our suffering, He can use it to bring about good and fulfill His perfect plan.

And with that truth comes freedom.

Heavenly Father, We are so blessed. Help us to recognize that truth even in the midst of suffering so horrible we can barely lift our heads. Many use suffering in our world as an excuse to not believe. May Your people see it as just the opposite. Proof that You are, that You are Truth, that You will keep Your promise to resurrect us, either from the grave or from this life when You return to take us home. Thank You that even in the midst of suffering, we can experience and enjoy the freedom You came to bring. In the name of our Victor, Jesus, we pray. Amen.