There are times in our lives, I feel, that we might believe we are boxed in. Unable to leave our surroundings or situation, locked in an empty room more or less, sealed within - trapped. So, we sit behind a door we can’t seem to open. Alone hidden from what we love, want, or need.
In those times, we might turn to God. We might pray, “Please, Father, unlock this door. Let me out. I’m scared. I want to be with you. I want to feel safe. Please forgive me for my faults, my mistakes, and muck-ups. Lead me to what you want for me. Unlock this door. Let me leave this place where I am lost - hurting.”
Yet, when we gather the courage to turn the knob, it’s still bolted. We then ponder, “Why? Why, God, will you not open this door for me? Why will you not free me from this place I so desperately want to be free of? Why are you not forgiving me – releasing me? Please tell me why?”
We bow our heads in humility and humbleness. We ask for forgiveness of sin and confess secrets. We pray, never ceasing - over and over. We wait and wait, sitting by the door on the floor, pleading with God on the other side to open it, and we beg for the chains that bind us to fall as they did for Peter when God sent angels to his cell.
Yet we still walk in circles around what feels like a padded room. We question, “Why are you not setting me free?
In my pondering, or my visits with brothers and sisters, I find our stories are often similar, sometimes miles apart, but unique to humans. It’s hard to forgive ourselves.
Consequently, I imagine that as God hears our pleas in these moments, His reply might be, “My child, look up. You must free yourself. I have freed you. You must forgive yourself; I have forgiven you. I have no lock on this side to unlock. What keeps you in that silo sits with you on your side of the door. Just turn the bolt.”
So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 (NIV)
God has heard every prayer. He’s forgiven every confession and stands on the other side of our door, ready to fill us with hope, courage, love, and strength. But the lock that keeps us in, the lock we plead for Him to open, break, or release – sits within us, on our side of the door.
We hold the key to our prison.
If we have accepted Christ, He has released us. But we must unlock our locks to walk out.
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See you next week. Be safe, stay kind, spread grace, and pray. Know this - the world and all in it sit in the hands of God. Go vote.
This is a reminder that Ponder This comes out on Wednesday mornings. Look for us in your inbox or on the Substack App. And remember:
“Pondering is everything, and everything is worth pondering.” - Kim Knights
Beautifully expressed, as always. <3
Forgiveness is powerful we always talk and teach our kids about forgiving others It’s important reminder