Chains That Bind

We took a day trip through a couple of little towns across Oklahoma this weekend.  Some Saturdays are just good for that.  We get in the car loaded with snacks and the camera and just drive wherever the road takes us.  It seemed like today was perfect for shooting pictures of barns.  There were so many of them along the way and the sky was a perfect backdrop of blue. Some, I could walk right up to and take pictures of, some had sagging wire fences that I could just hop over and others were gated and chained up, making it necessary to shoot them from the road.   But I was able to get some great shots.  I've always had a fascination with and a special love for the heartland, and to me, barns are the most beautiful symbol of Americana.  Each, with it's own personality telling a different story of a hard working family who toils and works the land.    

As we were winding down our trip for the day, we came across one last barn that I wanted to photograph. It was beautiful from the road and surrounded by wild sunflowers.  I took a few shots from across the highway and hopped in the car to drive on down the road.  As we got closer to the barn, my husband noticed a small dirt road leading to the barn.  We turned the car around and went back.  I was so excited that I was going to get to take pictures up close.  As we turned in, we noticed a big iron gate that was chained up.

I thought the gate was locked up.

The gate swung open

So I got out and decided to take pictures as close as I could get from the other side of the gate.As I was busy leaning over the gate, shooting pictures of the barn, my husband had also gotten out of the car.  I was too preoccupied to notice him.  I turned to look at him and saw that he had simply unwound the chain on the gate.  All of a sudden, it swung open wide.  I was immediately struck with how easy that was!  I had been able, only to see from afar, where I wanted to be.  But now the chains were loosed and I was free to go all the way in and experience what I thought I could only enjoy from a distance.

I was reminded of the Scripture in Acts 12:7-11.  Peter was in prison.  All of a sudden, the Lord touched him and the chains fell off of Peter's hands.  An angel led him out of the prison and down the street.  Peter realized that God had set him free.  He had to run to his friends to tell them how he had been in prison and God had caused him to be released!

Can it be that easy?  Do we stay bound up by chains of sin and hurt and heartbreak, when He is just waiting to loose those chains and set us free; chains that keep us from what's on the other side?  We can see what's waiting for us, but we are so preoccupied with what's wrong in our lives, that we don't take the simple actions necessary to be released.  We need to seek Him and ask Him to intervene on our behalf.  We need to trust that He knows the way out and will be faithful to do a good work in us.  Then we need to be obedient in whatever steps He asks us to take in order for the chains to come off.

What chains are holding you back, Dear One?  What has you tied up in knots?  Go to Him in prayer and ask Him to loose them and set you free.  He is faithful and merciful and a good Father and doesn't want to see His children in bondage.

From His Lap,