Once Like A Bird

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36 NKJV).

The consolations of God for His suffering servants stand readily available to all who worship and praise His name. Whether in cold darkness or warmest light, any place or time, a crowded place or utterly alone, we may cry unto the Lord from the depths of our hearts. And He hears. Paul and Silas did exactly that. In prisoner’s chains fastened to their feet and bleeding stripes upon their backs, they endured great anguish because they healed  a demon-possessed fortuneteller. Yet, around midnight Paul and Silas begin worshiping God by praying and singing loudly, unashamed of the good news. The chief jailer and other prisoners heard the rejoicing. Unexpectedly, an earthquake shook the inner stockade’s foundation, opening all locks and freeing the slaves. Later, the warden accepted Christ along with his whole family and received baptism. Set free.

Don’t know about you, but once like a bird in prison I dwelt. My teenage years, full of loneliness, created a hunger that couldn’t be satisfied. I tried everything, well almost—loose living, education, sports, entertainment and various personal achievements. Nothing worked. In grad school I ran across St. Augustine’s famous phrase, ‘our hearts are restless until they rest in You’. He went so far as to say God created a void within us that only He can satiate. Okay. That’s the answer. Searching for God or rather His search for me, I found true freedom “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages with nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]” (Eccl 3:11 Amp).

For real. Eternity rested in our hearts before the beginning of time. Just think, God alone sets us free from our self-made chains. He alone gives purpose and meaning to our lives. As rigorous as it tries, the world cannot satisfy hunger pains. Only the sweetness of His glorious nature, teeming with unselfish loving compassion, heals our wounds.

“I have learned to love the darkness of sorrow, for it is there I see the brightness of God’s face. For prison walls cannot control the flight or freedom of the soul” ~~~Madame Guyon 1648-1717