The Liberation Principle

Have you ever felt stuck? Like there's something you desperately want to do—something you know God is calling you to do—but for some reason, you just can't move forward?

This feeling of motionlessness isn't just frustrating; it can be spiritually disheartening. It creates a painful gap between our deepest desires and our daily reality.

But the freedom you seek isn't just possible—it's exactly what God wants for you?

The Struggle Between Wishes, Wants, and Reality

We've all been there: wanting to break free from a sin that keeps us bound, dreaming of pursuing a God-given vision, or simply trying to become the person we know we're called to be. Yet something holds us back.

• "I want to forgive that person who hurt me, but the pain is too deep."

• "I know I should be more consistent in prayer, but I never seem to find the time."

• "I feel called to ministry, but I'm paralyzed by fear of failure."

The Apostle Paul understood this struggle all too well. In Romans 7:15, he confesses:

Isn't that the most relatable verse in Scripture? The greatest apostle admitting he struggles with the same inner conflict we do?

This tension between desire and action affects every area of our lives.

We want to eat healthier, but reach for comfort food. We want to spend quality time with family, but get distracted by our phones. We want to serve others, but our calendar fills with self-serving activities.

Consider Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Church, who almost didn't write The Purpose Driven Life because he felt unqualified. He later admitted,

Yet he finally obeyed God's nudge, and the book sold 50 million copies, transforming millions of lives.

The man at the pool of Bethesda in John 5 perfectly captures this dilemma.

When Jesus asked if he wanted to get well, the man didn't say "yes" or "no." Instead, he explained his limitation:

For 38 years, this man had been unable to live a normal life. His desire for healing couldn't overcome his physical reality.

The Dangerous Comfort of Settling

Perhaps the most troubling part of this struggle is how easily we accommodate it. We begin to accept our limitations as permanent. We make peace with our chains.

• "This is just who I am."

• "Some people are disciplined; I'm just not wired that way."

• "I'll always struggle with this sin."

We craft elaborate explanations for why we can't change, why we can't move, why we can't grow.

And with each justification, our prison walls grow thicker.

In psychology, this is called learned helplessness.

The man at Bethesda had settled into his condition. He had a ready answer for why healing wasn't possible. What he didn't realize was that true healing wouldn't come from the pool at all, but from the Person standing before him.

Like him, we often look to our own resources—our willpower, our schedules, our determination—to solve what is fundamentally a spiritual problem.

And we can get so fixated on those resources that we stop seeing what is possible and instead conclude that there is no way out.

Moses could have settled for a comfortable life as a shepherd in Midian. At the burning bush God called him to something more uncomfortable but infinitely more significant.

What if your greatest breakthrough is waiting just beyond your willingness to be uncomfortable?

Anchor in the Truth that God Wants You Free

Here's the beautiful truth that changes everything: God desires your freedom even more than you do.

In Galatians 5:1, Paul declares,

The price of your liberty wasn't cheap. It cost Jesus everything.

Would He have paid such a tremendous price for anything less than your total freedom?

When Jesus approached the man at Bethesda, He didn't begin by asking about his condition or how long he'd been suffering (thankfully he knew).

He asked a simple but profound question: "Do you want to get well?"

Before you wonder why the man's opinion mattered, think about this:

Some of us have become so accustomed to our limitations that we've stopped wanting freedom. We've convinced ourselves that bondage is safer than liberty, that predictable pain is better than unpredictable joy.

If that's you, hear this:

Do not suppress your desire for freedom. Satan would love nothing more than for you to give up, to accept bondage as your permanent address.

Your Inability Has Spiritual Roots

Let's be honest about something: if pure willpower could set us free, we'd all be free already.

Our struggle isn't primarily physical or psychological—it's spiritual. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us,

When we feel unable to move toward what God has called us to, we're not just facing inner weakness—we're experiencing spiritual opposition.

This is actually good news! It means the solution isn't found only in trying harder or making more commitments. It's found in actions that are p spiritual power.

As Paul says,

This verse reveals that our position has fundamentally changed. We're no longer distant from God's power—we've been brought near to it.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you right now (Romans 8:11). You have access to resurrection power!

Rely Not on Your Strength, But on the Spirit of Christ in You

Our culture celebrates self-sufficiency. It advises you to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It holds that If you want it badly enough, you'll find a way.

But God's economy works differently. In His kingdom, strength is found in weakness, and victory comes through surrender.

After pleading with God to remove his "thorn in the flesh," he received this response:

This revelation changed Paul's perspective entirely. He continues,

What if your perceived inability isn't an obstacle to freedom but an invitation to experience God's power?

Think of the Holy Spirit like electricity. You don't need to be the power—just plug into the Source.

As for your weakness? It's the exact address where grace pitches its tent.

When Moses insisted that Pharaoh release Israel from slavery, he didn't rely on his own eloquence or leadership abilities. In fact, he tried to disqualify himself based on his weaknesses! But God didn't need Moses to be sufficient—He just needed Moses to be available, trusting and obedient.

The same is true for you. God isn't waiting for you to become strong enough to break free. He's waiting for you to rely completely on His strength, and take steps of faith based on His grace.

Taking Personal Responsibility Without Self-Reliance

There's a delicate balance here.

On one hand, we must take responsibility for our actions and choices. On the other hand, we recognize that true change comes only through Christ's power working in us.

It's not either/or—it's both/and.

When Jesus told the man at Bethesda to "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk," He was calling for action. The man had to respond. He had to move. But the power enabling that movement came from Jesus.

Similarly, Paul tells us,

We work out what God works in. We participate in our freedom without taking credit for it.

Do Not Justify Your Inability or Weakness

One of the enemy's most effective strategies is to convince us that our current limitations are fixed and permanent. He wants us to build theological frameworks that justify our bondage.

• "God is teaching me patience through this struggle."

• "This thorn in my flesh keeps me humble."

• "Some sins I'll just have to battle until heaven."

While God certainly uses difficulties to shape us, He never endorses bondage as His end goal for us. Jesus didn't die so we could manage sin better—He died to set us free from it.

Paul boldly declares,

This isn't wishful thinking; it's spiritual reality. It's not a goal to strive toward—it's a truth to live from.

Exposing Limitations for What They Are

Freedom begins with honesty. We must be willing to call our limitations what they really are, without excuses or justifications.

• That habit isn't just "something I struggle with"—it's a chain keeping me from God's best.

• That fear isn't just "being cautious"—it's unbelief dressed in respectable clothes.

• That procrastination sometimes isn't just "waiting for God's timing"—it's disobedience hiding behind spirituality.

When we name our limitations accurately, we strip them of their power to define us. We create space for God's truth to speak louder than our excuses.

Try this exercise:

1. Write down what you're avoiding and why.

   "I'm avoiding _____ because I'm afraid of _____."

   Replace each fear with a biblical truth. For example:

   Fear: "I'll look foolish.

   "Truth: "God chose the weak things to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).

2. Name your "mat":

   Identify the specific areas where you feel stuck.

   Be precise.

   "I want to be a better Christian" is too vague.

   But, "I want to overcome my addiction to social media" gives the Holy Spirit something specific to work with.

3. Do the "crazy" thing first

   Take one obedient step today.

   Don't wait until you feel ready or strong enough.

   In faith, do the next right thing, however small it seems. Like Peter stepping out of the boat before Jesus calmed the storm.

4. Celebrate small wins

   Notice and thank God for every small victory.

   Your gratitude builds momentum toward greater freedom.

   Remind yourself of God's faithfulness, just as the Israelites set up stones to remember God's miracles (Joshua 4:6-7).

5. When you fall, fail forward: Use setbacks as opportunities to better understand your triggers and strengthen your strategies.

The Ultimate Source of Liberty

At the heart of this journey toward freedom is a Person, not a process.

Jesus declared,

Your freedom isn't primarily about breaking bad habits or developing good ones. It's about living in intimate relationship with the One who is freedom personified.

The Spirit of Christ, given to all who believe, is the Spirit of liberty.

This means that freedom isn't something you achieve through spiritual disciplines only—it's someone you encounter through relationship.

The more you know Jesus—really know Him, not just know about Him—the freer you become. His presence dissolves chains that willpower alone could never break.

A Prayer for Freedom

Remember: your liberty isn't just a distant hope—it's your rightful inheritance as a child of God. Claim it today.

Wishing you a fruitful week.

Eryeza

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