There is an old parable about a man who passed by a camp and spotted elephants that were being held by small ropes tied to their front leg.

No chains, no cages.

It was obvious the elephants could break free from their bonds at any time….but for some reason…they didn’t.

Amazement and curiosity led the man to seek out the trainer and inquire about why these animals made no attempt to escape.

“Well,” the trainer replied, “When the elephants are very young and much smaller, we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed.

These animals could break free from their bonds at any time. But because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

What “Rope” Keeps You Stuck?

How often can we be like these elephants?

• Chained by our past mistakes.
• Constrained by limiting beliefs that have us buying into lies about ourselves.
• Bound by emotional baggage that keeps us from living free?

Sometimes life gets messy and we find ourselves stuck in the muck. We wish things were different and we want out of our mess, but it can feel like escape is just not an option.

We find ourselves defeated and discouraged by disempowering stories rolling around in our heads on repeat, such as, “You’re never going to change.” “You’re such a failure.” “You’re pathetic.” “What’s wrong with you?”

Two Steps to Break Free from Bondage

As we replay our failures, mistakes, and past hurts and are faced with challenges that appear to be unsurmountable, we can be conditioned into believing, “There’s no use fighting, this is just the way things are going to be.”

But Friend, no matter what “mess” you find yourself in today (or in the future), please remember: THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY OUT…and that includes any Hell you face.

When I was in the early stages of recovery, all I could see was the shambles my life had become.

It was hard to see how life could ever make sense again. Everything in my world was flipped upside down and there was no going back to the way things once were.

I questioned whether I’d ever find my way out of the darkness that had become my life. And even if I did, I doubted whether it’d be worth it.

Would I ever experience true joy again?

At times it can feel as if the best case scenario is to strive for acceptance and make the best of what our lives have become. A “new normal,” if you will: a life of surviving (most certainly not thriving).

In my own journey, there were many times when I honestly doubted whether I’d ever make my way out of my own Hell-hole. I questioned if I’d ever find the proverbial “light” at the end of my dark tunnel.

But lucky for me, God didn’t give up on me…even when fighting my way forward felt like it frankly wasn’t worth it anymore and I wanted to give up and claim defeat. Time after time, God would meet me in my mess, lift my spirit, and provide me with the strength to take those next steps forward.

He showed me that breaking free from the captivity of shame, insecurity, or other bondage isn’t impossible, nor is any situation too hopeless for Him.

Freedom is possible. And there is joy to be found on the other side.

But to make our way out of our “stuck” place, we need to keep pressing forward. And the journey begins with two steps forward.

STEP ONE: Find and Name that Rope.

Unmasking the problems, fears, misbeliefs, struggles in our lives is half the battle.

When we know what we’re up against, we can FIGHT BACK!

We don’t need to buy into the story that says things are hopeless and will never get better.

We can reject the lies that tell us we’re unworthy and align ourselves with the truth of who God says we truly are.

STEP TWO: Turn to God for Help and Rescue.

When we turn to God, He can help us rewrite the broken stories of our past and tells us a new story, such as, “You are worthy, you are important, and you have a special purpose in this world.”

When we welcome God into our pain, He can help us work through the hurt, expose the brokenness that needs His healing touch, and attach new meaning to the past.

Instead of being bound by our past hurts and limiting beliefs, He sets us free by showing us a different perspective. He helps us forgive those who have hurt us, have compassion on ourselves and the unwise choices we’ve made,

He also empowers us when we want to give up the fight.

He helps motivate us to keep moving forward by showing us the freedom and hope that awaits us on the other side.

Fight Your Way Out of the Muck!

FRIEND, DON’T SETTLE FOR CAPTIVITY.

Through the power we have in Christ, we can be set free.

Don’t resign and settle into the mess.

Choose to fight.

Start by finding that rope.

• What lies are blinding me to how incredibly important I am to this world?
• What misbeliefs are robbing me of self-confidence and joy?
• What muck keeps me stuck, causing me to doubt whether true freedom and happiness is even possible?

Seek God’s help to fight your way to freedom with all your might.

• Don’t believe the lies rattling around in your mind, instead seek God to reveal the truth about who you truly are
• Don’t allow your past to write your future, instead ask God to help you hold new meaning to your past
• Don’t let your challenging present circumstances lead you to claim defeat, rather ask God to help you see how your pain and hardships can be used for good

Friend, no matter where your find yourself to day, please know that you’re not destined to be stuck in the muck.

No matter how long you’ve been suffering…or how difficult your present circumstances…God can help you find your way out.

There’s no pit too deep or mountain too high.

God will set you free.