Welcome guest blogger, Maree Dee, from Embrace the Unexpected, as she encourages those who are caretakers with loved ones who are chronically and/or mentally ill.

Maybe it is due to your current circumstances, or perhaps this longing has been festering for some time. Quite possibly, the wants and needs of others have taken priority, and your sense of freedom has been slowly getting drowned out. How long do you think you will last going without the fantastic feeling of being free?

Hands down for me, my favorite freedom time begins when I hear the familiar click of my ski boots attached to my snow skis. As I move towards the lifts, my heart skips a beat, knowing it will be a fabulous day, only God and me. As I ride up the hill, my eyes dart from side to side, and I am in awe of God’s creation. The beauty reminds me HE IS ENOUGH! Then I slowly edge my way to the top of the ridge, point my skis downhill and let it all go! There is nothing like the thrill of racing down the hill without a care in the world.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV).

Ponder with me, when was the last time you felt free? What were you doing?

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The Struggle to Find Freedom

However – snow melts and activities end. And with it, the feeling of freedom starts slowly dissipating into thin air. Without even noticing it, our days don’t seem to hold enough of being free. Before we know it, productivity, meeting other’s needs, and an over-packed schedule seem to take priority. We become slaves to what controls us.

For “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them” (2 Peter 2:19).

Perhaps, you struggle to find freedom in a few of these areas:

1. God’s Love

We may know God loves us, yet sometimes we live as if we must prove ourselves worthy of His love.

2. Our Salvation

We understand our salvation is a gift, but we fail to stop trying to earn our way to heaven with our deeds.

3. Knowing You Are Enough

We can get caught up in believing we are not enough and therefore strive to be like someone else instead of finding liberation in who we are.

4. Allowing Others to Be Who They Are

When we can’t let others be free to be who they are, it leaves us trapped in a battle.

5. Expressing Your Feelings

If we don’t express our feelings because those around us appear to be hurting more, they get trapped deep down inside.

6. Making Everyone Else Happy

When we consistently set aside our wants, needs, and desires to please everyone else, when God is the one we need to satisfy.

7. Bogged Down With Burdens

When we hold tightly to burdens and carry them all alone, we can lose our sense of freedom.

8. Productivity Becomes Our Master

When we fail to let our work be good enough, we cease producing and understand resting is crucial.

What areas of life do you struggle in to find freedom?

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How do we get to a place of living free?

It Must Start With Jesus!

The truth is we have all been set free by Jesus, yet we don’t always live that way. However, God wants us to.

True freedom is possible when we acknowledge it comes from God. But we have to let Him be enough in our everyday life.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 NIV).

1. Stop Believing the Lies

It is easy to get stuck believing lies that stifle our sense of freedom. Jesus came to give us freedom. He wants us to have it.

2. Know the Feeling

If we don’t know what it feels like to be free, how will we know when attainment has happened? Think back to a time or event when you felt that sense of freedom.

3. Let Go of Your Burdens

Are you clinging tightly to something that is not yours to hold? Is your load heavy and burdensome? God never intended us to carry our burdens alone.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).

4. Seek a Fresh Perspective

Sometimes we get so used to our “new normal” we don’t even realize we are being held captive. A wise friend, pastor, or a therapist may be able to see what we can’t see in ourselves. That is what happened to me.

My Story

As I approached the door, I started feeling silly about booking an appointment with our family therapist. After all, life is always fantastic in the middle of the winter. However, since I am a caregiver & recovering people-pleaser, I know the importance of having another set of eyes to see when my self-care is out of whack.

I plopped down on the couch and began chatting about how much I love skiing, how life felt balanced, and God was so close. Quickly she had me uncovering what was beneath it. Ahh, I hadn’t realized it was a sense of freedom.

Of course, since life was bliss on this particular day, it took a bit of probing to uncover those forgotten words I spurted out, a mere two months ago. In a fit of despair, I had cried out, “I can’t do this anymore.” “Caring for others is too hard all by myself.” “I need help.”

Now I’m the kind of gal who colors inside the lines. So when asked to do something a little out of the ordinary, I tend to be a bit doubtful. But today, I played along as I pointed a tool in the air and held it steady when a thought took me to a place where my freedom gets stifled. To my surprise, my eyes welled up, and teardrops began falling at rapid speed, one right after another as I uncovered how many areas of life I long for freedom.

Another set of eyes to guide us along to an honest look at where we stifle our freedom and where it flourishes can sometimes be vital in living a life of freedom.

Choose to Walk in Freedom

Yes, Jesus set us free! However, we must choose to walk in freedom. Maybe this will be as simple as singing at the top of your lungs, dancing, reading God’s word, shutting down your phone, or even designating part of your day to do what your heart desires.

Now not for one minute do I advocate us all abandoning our responsibilities or those who God puts into our care. However, Jesus gave us freedom; let’s choose wisely and enjoy the gift in our everyday life.

Don’t let me mislead you –  I have not arrived at this sense of freedom in my everyday life.  I am on a journey. However, I have uncovered the times I feel most free are when I am with Jesus, in mind, body, and soul. It is usually outside when it is solely God and me.

Let’s choose to live in the freedom God has in mind for each of us. We can’t let another day go by and miss the feeling of being free.

Where are you currently finding freedom?

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 ESV).

Maree Dee is a Writer | Speaker | Advocate | Ministry Leader – passionate about encouraging and equipping others to embrace life in the midst of the unexpected. She is a warrior who doesn’t give up when the journey gets tough. Maree believes, together with God, we can all find incredible joy along the way, even when surrounded by tremendous pain. If you are a caregiver of someone with a mental illness, be sure to visit her blog, Embracing the Unexpected for more encouraging resources and insights or to share with those who need Maree Dee’s wisdom and support.