Freedom in Christ

and from Panic Attacks too!

"If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36 NRSV).

Recently, a friend sent me an email with a link to watch a video. The day she sent it, I was struggling with high anxiety. You see, about fifteen years ago I had my first panic attack. If you've never experienced one, imagine normal, healthy anxiety, and then put it into turbo overdrive, which doesn't shut off for several minutes, often happening without warning or for any apparent reason! Think space shuttle launch, versus a July 4th firecracker. (But I digress.)

I clicked the link to watch the video. It showed a large, humpbacked whale struggling to live. Some people who were boating saw the distressed whale and began videotaping. One of the brave men on board left the security of his boat and jumped into the water to see what was wrong. He swam near the whale, risking his life, and discovered a massive fishing net engulfing the whale's body. He pulled and tugged and cut at the net and was able to free one of the whale's dorsal fins, but it wasn't enough, the whale was in a death grip and was drowning. For the next hour, the man and his companions from aboard the boat hacked away at the giant, cumbersome net, pulling and cutting, pulling and cutting, until finally the whale was set free!

Then a remarkable thing happened; for the next hour, the whale swam alongside their boat, dancing, flipping, slapping his fins and jumping high out of the water in what appeared to be unbridled celebration. It was an amazing show of thanksgiving to his rescuers for setting him free! I was crying by the end of the video!

The whale's expression of freedom reminded me that Jesus left the security of heaven to rescue me, to free me from Satan's death grip. And not only did Jesus risk his life, he gave it up so I could have eternal life! Yet, my reaction toward my rescuer is not usually one of unbridled celebration and thanksgiving. I'd like it to be! Wouldn't you? Yet, more often than not, we are easily entangled by our circumstances. We are prone to focus our attention on those negative situations, rather than on Jesus our rescuer.

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to stay focused, to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV).

Why am I telling you something so personal regarding my struggle with anxiety? First, I think it is important for Christians to be vulnerable and honest with one another; the Apostle Paul tells us why, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God" 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV).

If we don't share our struggles with one another, but go on pretending we are problem-free, then how can we comfort others with what we've learned from our life experiences and struggles, and then testify how God brought us through or is bringing us through?

Secondly, I have been reading through the book of Job. Job's friends are famous for having mishandled their response to Job for his suffering. Yet, for a short time they got it right, "When Job's three friends . . . heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. . . . No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was" Job 2:11-13 (NIV).

All of us struggle from time to time---emotionally, physically, and relationally. Job reminds us that the most helpful thing we can do sometimes is to just sit with our friends who are suffering and keep our mouths shut!

The whale video is a great visual. It is a reminder of the joy of my salvation. I have been set free! And if you are in Christ, you have been set free too. And if the Son has set us free, we are free indeed! Hallelujah!

Finally, God's timing is perfect. A book I had ordered days before, the Panic Attacks Workbook, arrived in the mail on the day my anxiety peaked. And if you struggle with anxiety or panic attacks, I recommend it as an excellent and helpful resource. It is helping me to think in new ways, so I can be less entangled by my circumstances, and free to enjoy and celebrate God's many gifts in my life!

"Dear Father God, thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and for setting me free! Amen."

Read a follow up to this devotional, "Dynamite Living."

Watch the whale video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYPlcSD490

Get the Panic Attacks Workbook, it has helped me tremendously!

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