My Chains are Gone!

Last nights bible study really struck a chord with me and I feel strongly to share what I learned! I am in a women's bible study. This is a 12 week class studying the book of Daniel with Beth Moore. Last night we covered chapter 3. Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego stand up for their God and will not bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar and his image of gold. In doing so their hands are bound and they are escorted to their fiery death. Even the men that escorted them to the fire were burned to death because the fire was that hot. Nebuchadnezzar watched in amazement as the men were dropped into the fire only to see FOUR figures rising from it and walking out. (Daniel 3: 25) Do you know who it is said the fourth was - The son of God!! They came out of the fire unharmed and did not even smell of smoke! The implications of this to our own lives and our own "fires" are simply amazing.
Our God can free us from the bonds of fire. To me, this hit me in the very pit of my stomach. This released me - released any bonds I had tied to my family's history of suicide. Just because I have "come through" these fires does NOT mean I am bound to them! Do you see what I mean? It is the same for suicide as it is for substance abuse, divorce, cycles of abuse, etc. Just because we have lived through something like this does not mean we are bound to it! Tears roll down my face as this sets in for me! How many nights and days did I go through life with no hope, feeling the weight and burdens of this world on my shoulders - thinking one day it was all going to be too much for me to bear. NO! I am not alone. We are not alone. God is here with us!
And this is why I am a positive and happy spirit! As the songs says, "My chains are gone, I've been set free"! Amazing love, Amazing Grace!!