With the Fourth of July just behind us, I’ve been thinking a lot about freedom and all that it represents. Most of the time, when we think of freedom, we think of the big things—freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to choose our own path.
But there’s another kind of freedom we don’t always recognize in the same way: freedom from things. Freedom from anxiety. Freedom from addiction. Freedom from the weight of our past. These are the kinds of freedom that come through a relationship with Jesus.
Understanding that we are free from these things is no easy task. Because of how our minds work—and because the enemy is both cruel and relentless—we often remain chained to sin, shame, and guilt.
We may know, in theory, that Jesus offers us freedom, but we struggle to fully believe it applies to us. So instead of walking in freedom, we carry burdens we were never meant to bear, simply because we haven’t grasped the depth of what Christ has already done.
Knowing we are free and living in freedom are two different things—and as Christians, it’s important that we understand both.
Knowing we’re free begins with understanding what Jesus has done for us. Romans 6:6–7 says, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with… anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
Through Jesus’s crucifixion, our hearts have been set free from sin. We are no longer under its control. That doesn’t mean we won’t still be tempted or struggle, but it does mean that sin no longer has the power to chain us or separate us from God.
Living in that freedom means allowing our actions—and our mindset—to reflect that truth. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Let that sink in: don’t let yourself be burdened by a yoke of slavery. That “slavery” can look different for each of us. I know I struggle with being a slave to anxiety. We are all subjected to being slaves to fear, to anger, or to control. These things can quietly rule our lives in ways we don’t even realize.
But with Jesus’s help, we can begin to live free from them. He gently shows us how to walk in peace, in joy, and in the freedom He died to give us.
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
Freedom in Christ isn’t just a concept to understand—it’s a gift to be received and lived out. If you’re carrying something that feels heavy, something that’s been chaining you up inside, you don’t have to keep holding it. Jesus already broke the chains. You’re invited to live differently—not perfectly, but freely.
I don’t know what kind of “slavery” you’ve felt stuck in lately—but I do know this: Jesus wants more for you. He didn’t set you free so you could stay stuck. He set you free so you could live in victory. He wants you to walk in the kind of freedom that breathes life into your soul and brings peace into your everyday moments.
If you’ve felt trapped by sin, shame, fear, or anything else that weighs you down, it’s time to take a step forward. Name the burden. Surrender the guilt. Refuse the lies that try to drag you back. Freedom is already yours—now it’s time to live like it.
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:36
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