Have you ever felt like you are trapped? May be it is a job, a relationship or circumstance that you are in. May be you are feeling trapped as a Christian with the do’s and don’ts or a sin that has wrapped its’ tentacles around you and you feel you can’t get loose. Whatever may be the situation it can seem overwhelming. You feeling like there is this tall fence and you’re trying to get over it but you just keep running into it. The fence is way too high for you to get over.
I remember a few years ago when a deer got into our garden. I am not even sure how she got in there. But she could not get out. She kept running into the fence over and over again. She even had some blood on her head.
My husband finally went out and opened the gate but trying to get her to go through there was difficult. She still kept banging her body against the fence. I think someone finally went around the backside of the fence to try to get her to go toward the opening. It seemed that she was trying so hard to get out she was not looking for the most obvious solution. It would not take any real effort on her part, she just needed to go toward the doorway and she would be able to get out.
This is exactly how we start to feel about different things. We feel trapped within “restrictions”, a job, or relationship. We also may be trapped within our own inclinations to sin. We keep trying to get back over the “fence” but it is too high for us to get over. We don’t want any help. We are afraid of what we might have to give up or what we might lose out on. We are trying to take all the solutions upon ourselves and we can’t seem to figure it out. The crazy part is that there is an opening, a doorway, but we are too focused on getting free by jumping the “fence”.
When we get desperate enough, we are wounded and bleeding we finally start to look for other solutions and suddenly we see the Doorway. Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9 What a promise!
Jesus is the answer; He is the way out of all of our troubles. But self wants its way. It wants to get in the way. But we do have the power of choice. Sometimes we may need to agonize on our knees. God will take control if we surrender to Him but surrendering can be hard work. And surrendering is not just a one-time event. Surrendering is done moment-by-moment. Everything that comes to us we have a choice, am I going to surrender to the will of God or am I going to do my own thing.
I want to share some ideas to consider.
- Give up your rights. I want to put this into balance. For someone who may be in an abusive relationship you need to get out. This is not what I am talking about here. But what I am talking about is just the normal everyday life. We run into problems where we want to hold to what we want then fights ensue. Whether it is with family members, friends or bosses. Self rises and we want our way. We need to head for the opening in the fence and let God help us through the “fence”. We can’t do it on our own but He can help us give up our rights. Jesus had every right to retaliate but He did not. He gave up His rights so that we could be saved.
- Work as unto the Lord. I know I wrote another article more specifically to this subject if you would like to read it. But the fact is whether it is a boss, family or friends, if we do all as if we are doing it for Christ or to Christ, it puts a whole new perspective on things. Change the “why” of what you are doing and that can change your attitude. This can even apply to every decision that we make in life. Since our minds are always thinking of something I think spending a thoughtful hour each day thinking about Jesus life and what He has done for us can help us put a different perspective upon our choices. That leads to my next point.
- Fall in love with Jesus. This is really the key component. We will feel trapped even in these steps unless we have fallen in love with Jesus. We can only do this by spending time with Him. You can’t love someone who you haven’t gotten to know. Jesus is the only one that can help you out of whatever trap you are in. But He is all love and He doesn’t force His way in.
- Keep moving moment by moment. I would encourage you not to think about tomorrow, next week, month or year because it can be overwhelming. Just take things a moment at a time. Walking with Jesus by your side makes these things possible. Stay connected with Him moment by moment.
Dear Father,
Thank You for Your Son Who is always a present help in trouble. I am so grateful that we can come to You in our time of need. Continue to guide us. Thank You for Your patience with us.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to fall in love with Jesus. He is the opening and He is waiting to let you through so that you can be free from all the traps in life. Surrender all today! You will be glad you did.
Love you all.
I know what I have shared here is not exhaustive. What have you found that has helped you in the surrendering process?