How to Find Freedom in the Christian Life
Have you ever been hiking and come across a seemingly impassable obstacle? Maybe it’s a tight squeeze between two towering sandstone walls. You might have to take off your backpack, turn sideways, and hold your breath to just barely slide through. But on the other side, the view is a stunning, expansive valley—a breathtaking reward for your effort.
In our spiritual lives, we often face similar situations. We carry a heavy backpack filled with things that hold us back—resentments, bad habits, grudges, and past mistakes. These burdens prevent us from finding true freedom and joy. The good news is, like that narrow gap in the rock, there’s a way through.
The Narrow Gate
Jesus often spoke about this narrow path. When asked, “Will only a few people be saved?” he didn’t give a simple number. Instead, he challenged his followers to agonize, a word that suggests striving and struggling with all our might. He was encouraging them to put in the effort required to shed what holds them back.
This “striving” isn’t about earning salvation on our own. It’s about actively cooperating with God’s grace. It’s about letting go of what isn’t of him so that we can be changed and shaped by him. The Gospel of John says Jesus is the “gate for the sheepfold,” and to get in, we must pass through him. This means we have to be willing to be transformed, to let go of our own will and embrace his.
The Problem With Our Backpacks
We all accumulate things in our backpacks. They can be subtle—a quick apology we should have made, a deep-seated resentment we refuse to release, or an unhealthy habit we’ve been clinging to. These things weigh us down and keep us from experiencing the fullness of life God wants for us.
For many of us, it’s easy to settle for simply being in the church, thinking that’s enough. But as the saying goes, “just because you’re in a garage doesn’t make you a car.” Likewise, just being in the church doesn’t automatically make us Christians. True communion with Christ requires conversion—a genuine change of heart.
God’s desire for us is freedom—a life of goodness and grace. He disciplines us not because he doesn’t like us, but because he loves us so much that he wants us to be free from anything that prevents us from loving him and others.
An Invitation to Freedom
So what do we need to take out of our backpack? Take some time today to sit in prayer and ask God that very question. Here are a few ways you can do this:
- Reflect honestly: Sit quietly and ask yourself, “What am I carrying that is preventing me from living a life of freedom?” Maybe it’s a rocky relationship, an unconfessed sin, or a negative attitude you can’t seem to shake.
- Write it down: Sometimes seeing our burdens on paper can help us confront them. Acknowledge what you need to let go of and what you might need to do, like making a phone call to apologize.
- Confession: If you feel the weight of sin, consider seeking out the sacrament of confession. It’s a powerful way to unburden yourself and receive God’s grace.
God does the heavy lifting, but our part is to make a profound “yes” with our hearts. It’s a daily choice to surrender and to let go of the things that encumber us. By doing this, we can pass through the narrow gate and join in the great feast with people from every nation—a celebration of life and freedom that God has prepared for all of us.
What’s in your backpack that you’re ready to let go of?