A year ago today I declared my freedom and independence from a past relationship. This was no minor feat, but enough was enough. What I’m not sure I realized then was that declaring one’s independence is one thing; doing the work to make it happen is quite another.

Even in our own country’s history it has been and continues to be a process.  The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. Consider the following line though: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These are issues that our country is still grappling with today. Has there been progress? Yes! We were certainly able to establish our independence from Britain, but we’re still working to truly live out all of the claims in our declaration.

When God freed the Israelites from captivity in Egypt, that wasn’t the end either.  On the contrary it was really just the beginning. There was a process to the promise.  The journey was hard, tiring, and uncomfortable. This is why independence has to be something you truly want; you have to be willing to go the distance and fight for it.

The Israelites disobeyed- a lot.  This made their process longer, it often lead to them getting lost, and having to learn a good deal of lessons. They had to remember how far God had brought them.

Sometimes we even question our decision. The Israelites did. “Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert” (Exodus 14:12). They thought about going back.  But what Moses said next was critical.  He tells his people not to fear and that the Lord will deliver them (Exodus 14:13).

One thing that I had struggled with in the past was the going back- not realizing how close I was to freedom and getting sucked back in. Moses addresses this saying, “for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.”  In other words, we’re going all the way with this.  There is no turning back.  Our eyes are on the promise.

What is it that you need independence from?  Who or what is your Egypt?  A relationship? Addiction? Low self-esteem? Whatever it is, it is yours for the taking in Jesus Christ. Declare your independence, but be prepared to work the process.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,                                              there is freedom. –2 Corinthians 3:17

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. –John 8:36