My daughters have heard me say quite a few times of late, “don’t let anyone steal your joy”.   It’s a simple, yet powerful statement, but admittedly one that is much easier to say, than to ever do.    That particular saying talks about the power that one person can have over another’s life.   Psychologists likely have deep textbook theories and reasons for why we can allow this to happen at times, often without even realizing it, at least in the beginning.

The reality is, however, that we all have things that are holding us back from being our very best self or experiencing every ounce of life this earthly journey has to offer.  People, circumstances, and often self-imposed “chains” that we cannot seem to break.  No doubt we have tired, more than once, even many times if we are transparent and honest.  So, why can it be so hard?

I’d like to suggest what I’m describing may be one of life’s greatest paradoxes.   A contradiction between what we deeply want and unfortunately do not have.  It’s truly ours for the taking – so why don’t we?

Perhaps we are steeped in old habits, a pathway that is lined with how we’ve always done it, or dealt with it.   Can it be that we don’t believe there is another way? Is it our negative self-talk that steers are actions and beliefs?  Is our light at the end of the tunnel just too dim?  Do we by chance feel that redemption from our pain and/or struggle is for someone else and not ourselves?

I do believe that what I have shared is part of our challenge.   I also believe that are humanness gets in the way of us opening our eyes and hearts wide enough to see what God has already done in our lives and what we know He is doing in the lives of others.   Maybe we’ve heard the stories, the powerful testimonies, but it still seems elusive.

Psalm 116:16 tells us … you have freed me from my chains.  

I hope you caught that.  It doesn’t say, you have freed others from their chains.  It says MY CHAINS – whatever they are, how big, how small, how loose or how tight you feel them around you.   This is not a road you need to walk forever.  In fact, you don’t even need to take one more incumbered step.   You can be free.   All you need to do is believe.

If you feel bound by anything, anyone, or any circumstance, I encourage you to stop right now and pray, or ask someone you know to pray with you.  Ask our Lord and Savior to open your mind to believe that there is a better way and, to open your heart to feel his love and peace.    Trade the chains you feel restricting you for His loving arms to hold you.

If you are someone who has been freed from some type of “chain”, if you are comfortable, please share it with others.  I invite you to share it in the comments on this blog.   Your story just may be the one that is the tipping point for someone else’s belief.    How simple an act that can make an incredible difference in someone else’s life (and probably yours too)!

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” ~ Nido Qubein

As always, I have a song to share with you.   Another new song for me.  This one hits the bulls-eye for this message, unlike any other song may have to date.  Do me a BIG favor this week.   Listen to this song and if you need freed from any chain, play this over and over again until you believe the words are for you.  If someone close to you needs to hear this song, play it for them.  Sing it to them.  Write down the lyrics and hang it up so they can read it over and over again.  It truly says it all…

Chain Breaker