FREE FROM ME

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest” (Ps. 55:4-8).

Have you ever felt like David? We’ve all felt like that and thought about quitting. However, there is a problem with the “free from me” syndrome as I call it. We could spend ample time discussing all of the details of “justification” for wanting to quit work, quit school, quit trying, quit caring, quit marriage, quit loving, quit church, and even quit God. However, reasons or excuses are always a “blue light special,” whole sale, and are very, very, cheap--if you know what I mean. I don’t wish to waste my time dealing with “justified” reasons or excuses of the why of wishing to escape from it all, but would rather like to discuss where it comes from.
The “free from me” syndrome can be seen in every corner of life styles and from every civilization. Take TV for example; What is it really, but a tool of “escape.” Most people watch approximately seven hours of TV per day. Why? All to escape from the real world. Take a novel, fiction of course--and you will find another fantasy high. The list is endless if you start thinking about it: Drugs, alcohol, parties, babes, dudes, concerts, music, etc. Again, I don’t wish to look at “why”, nor the “reasons” but “where” does it come from.
The “free from me” attitude comes from an attitude of rejection of self. That’s right! The majority of people do not like themselves. They would rather do what David was thinking, and fly away from it all. The major problem with the “free from me” spirit is, that when you “quit” or fly away, where ever you go, YOU will still be there. The answer is not to quit, or escape from circumstances, problems, temptations, etc., but rather to find the miracle in you, the change that Jesus made in you and like it.
Most singles want to get married because they don’t like being ALONE--you know, alone with THEMSELVES. One out of two marriages end up in a divorce. Why? They found out that they were still alone, even though they were married. Guess what? They found themselves alone again. Yes, TV, parties, drugs and wanting marriage again. Why do people get on this merry-go-round anyway? Because, they ignore the place where it all comes from which is in themselves. Your answer, and the world’s answer is in letting God do a divine work in your life until you can be happy about yourself.
Your answer is not in a new marriage, new home, new car, new job, or a new relationship, but in a new YOU. There is only one place you can get a new you, and that is with Jesus. Your answer is where David found his answer, which is in CHANGE (Ps. 55:19). In the same chapter he thought of flying away, he found out that if he would let God change him, the afflictions would go. Yes it is possible for you to learn to like yourself by liking the change God has made in you. I invite you into this wonderful world of change