He breaks through chains…

My eyes rested on my bed-side Bible. Christmas lunch was over – stomach and heart satisfied. It’d been a good day…

I picked up the familiar book and stumbled onto Psalm 107:

“ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever…”

Yes, this one fit my mood and feeling. I felt like giving praise to the one who is truly good. My rock, my sure foundation. His love endures forever… Others may fail me, but he won’t. His love is the kind that goes on and on… into eternity.

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”

This appears to refer to the Babylonian captivity (Isaiah and Jeremiah), and it resonates with my own experience. I have been redeemed from my wanderings too. I have been in the hand of the foe, as we all have. I have been gathered, a little lost sheep returned to her shepherd. I have come back, and found grace… The greater the captivity, the sweeter the redemption… oh, thank you God…

“Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

Ever felt like this? Completely lost, aimless… without a true home? Christmas can feel like that especially much. I’m so glad I’ve found my home with him, above all other places of abode. In crying out to my Saviour, I am found. In an instant. And distress is soothed by the Father’s comforting words: ‘I’m here, my daughter. And I’m not going to leave you, not ever… Be satisfied in me. Be filled, you who hunger… Abide in my city of abundance…’

“Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.”

History repeats itself, and we find ourselves in chains again and again. Chains to our idols and desires which seem so right but aren’t directing us to him… Chains of bitterness, unforgiveness, joylessness, depression, anxiety and fear… We know God can help, but we keep allowing the chains to wrap themselves around us… we fail to see the hope and the light… We are ill, and we are suffering… there seems no way out… But He says to ask, to cry out. He will save, He will free, He will perform mighty miracles. If he can break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron, he can slice open the invisible chains we’ve allowed to take up residence…

“Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”

Some will accept His help, others will stay entrapped, wandering their own way. But there is always grace, always mercy, always forgiveness… until He comes again.

Let us give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love, and his wonderful deeds for mankind. May our lives exist as a living, breathing sacrifice for him. Be generous with your thank offerings… be loud with your songs of joy…

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…