The Lock Is on the Inside

Being a soul of imagery, I listen to so many in anguish crying out that they are trapped in turmoil, injustice and toxic messes of all genres and visualize what God might be showing me. Society (and also Christianity) seems fenced in on all sides by ensnaring attacks.

I found myself pondering if outside imposed havoc or inner predisposed inability to act and change desolation is the enemy’s captive strategy? How much easier is it to choose captivity over setting oneself free? Captivity takes helplessness in the known. Freedom takes helping oneself into the unknown. Captivity is letting fear keep you in the known. Freedom is possessing the courage to seize the unknown.

This week I brought this quandary to God. Instantly, He painted a picture for me. I saw a lost desolate human being completely fenced in on all sides by chain links representing all Satan’s imposed trials and tribulations. The Holy Spirit’s illumination, having been greatly suppressed by the prisoners’ closed minds, clenched fists, dug in heels and eyes that stared only at what was behind and familiar, was only dimly present. A SONbeam stretched into the cutoff prison. It illuminated the lock on the gate barrier, separating captivity from freedom. Suddenly, a veil was lifted from my eyes. The lock was revealed to be on the inside. To get out of captivity, the prisoner had only to reach out and open the lock. Satan was not the power keeping the hostage imprisoned. Closed minds, clenched fists, dug in heels and eyes that stared only behind and at what was familiar were the captive force.

One more view God shared. The soil of the fenced in prison was composed of quicksand. In its center were poles many captives were struggling to climb, only to slide back down into the devouring sinkhole. Outside the walls of the prison stood God’s army of Scripture clad promises. Each was represented by a fishing pole whose line was cast over the prison fence. Theirs was the strength and COURAGE needed and offered to all who chose to be pulled totally out of the quicksand and not just up for a short breath before sliding back down into its hold. The chant: “Pray for God’s strength and BEG FOR GOD’S COURAGE filled the air.

To all suffering captivity, my intercession to God is that you reach for the lock only your hands can open. Free yourself by reaching for and holding onto God’s promises, not the pole of Santan’s slippery slope. Where you are is not holding you back. Rather, the fear of going forward is the impediment you need to overcome. The only way forward is to not keep going back. The shackle that restrains you from freedom and moving beyond chaos’ pit can be broken. God’s strength can only deliver you, if you hold onto His COURAGE which is, truly and absolutely, needed to “Let Go and Let God”.