"Trapped Without Escape"

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:12-16 NIV).

As I have talked with more people over the last few months helping them deal with their experiences of the past it has occurred to me that it is easy to feel trapped without any possible way of escape. I remember reading if flies are placed in a jar with air holes in the lid, they will fly frantically, banging into the lid, desperately trying to escape from their prison. If left there long enough, eventually they will stop hitting the lid. Later, if the lid is removed, they won't even try to escape.

I wonder how many of us have fallen for the lie of our enemy, the devil, and become like those flies? Because of a traumatic or painful experience in our past we have been "conditioned" to believe that we are trapped in a prison of helplessness without escape, so we are afraid to try again for fear of failure or of being hurt again. To overcome, we need to acknowledge where we have been hurt and, if necessary, get into a recovery program to overcome our painful memories and unresolved feelings.

The Apostle Paul had ample reason to be trapped in his past. Yet, he found the means to “press on.” At least part of that path was expressed by the Apostle Peter. He wrote, "So get rid of your feelings of hatred" (cf. 1 Peter 2:1). The same principle applies to all negative feelings, especially the supercharged repressed negative ones. Repressing or denying these feelings doesn't get rid of them. It only adds "interest" to them and makes matters worse. Furthermore, we can never "forget" the past until we have resolved it. Only then are we truly able to forgive any and all who have ever hurt us. Until we do this, we are still bound to and controlled by our past.

This often requires help from someone who can guide us through the process. That’s one of the great joys of the ministry I have become more deeply involved in this year. Seeing people finally become free from their self-imposed prison of guilt and shame is an incredible blessing! Do you need that freedom in your life? Make a decision today that a way has already been provided for you through the work of Christ and get someone to help you move through the process. You will not regret a moment of the investment of your energy, time, and resource.