Turn your radio dial to any contemporary Christian station these days and you’ll hear plenty of songs about chains and how God is a chain-breaker.

As we sing those songs, we tend to envision the personal chains that God has broken from our own lives – addictions, habits, and strongholds.

But how often do we consider the impact of other people’s chains on us?

Living in a broken world, we are all subject to “chains” – toxic tendencies, wrong thinking, and generational shackles that get passed down to us.  Invisible to the naked eye, the ramifications of these chains impact our thinking, decisions, and actions. 

But, they also have a ripple effect on those around us.

Many times, we get frustrated at our spouses, our parents, and our closest friends for not loving us, leading us, or supporting us well, all the while not taking into consideration the chains they have in their lives.

My first marriage was a perfect example of this as I anticipated, expected, and waited on my husband to love and encourage me the way I thought he should.  Yet, the further into our marriage we got, the more my hopes and expectations were dashed as what I longed for versus what I received were two totally different things.

I was discouraged more times than I can count and heartbroken more days than I care to admit as my faith seemed shackled to the way I was being treated.  Yet, the simple truth was my husband never had his chains broken. 

I was waiting on him to walk in a freedom he didn’t know. 

The result was that I was growing stagnant and unfruitful in my own walk with God as I hitched my hopes to a person still wrestling with their own fetters.  It required God opening my eyes and helping me see that no one can hinder my growth, my progress, or my obedience to Him except me.

Every person we lock eyes with today has their own chains.  But, here’s a lifesaving piece of advice – don’t let anyone else’s chains keep you from being faithful.

God has called us to be light-bearers, salt-shakers, and ambassadors on mission for His Kingdom.  Part of that high calling is to walk in freedom ourselves so that we can, in turn, help others find freedom from their chains as we introduce them to the only Chain-Breaker, Jesus.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners (those in chains) and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…” (Luke 4:18)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!