Today my younger brother turns my age until my birthday on July 1.  I’ve said it before but I just can hardly believe mom was 41 when I was born and 10 months and 6 days later she had Ron!  Wow!

As I began to read my devotional this morning the topic was bondage.  As I began to read the book of Numbers, the topic was bondage.  I’m sure this is not just coincidental.  The bondage the devotional was talking about was perfectly aligned with the way Numbers starts.  When we are in the midst of crisis it is easy to see the tentacles of bondage and run from it.  When we have been distanced from it and the insecurities of life set in, it is not as easy to remain living in the freedom.  We tend to want to go back to what we’ve known no matter how bad it may have been.  It requires trusting God and having faith in taking the steps God asks us to take not knowing most of the time what is on the other side of the step/s.

Often times the missing ingredient is the relationship we have or don’t have with God.  The Israelites are free from Egypt right now as Numbers starts but the God they are told to serve is the one who allowed them to be in slavery for 400 years.  Their relationship with God and with Moses is rather new.  Today, those in bondage, are asked to trust God when He allowed them to be abused through their childhood.  (I’m talking for me right now).  The difference for me–relationship.  Healthy relationships breed trust and faith.  It takes time to do this and it takes discipline to remain in the relationship.  God has been so loving and faithful throughout this journey of recovery.  I never want to fall back into the bondage of my past.  I also want to spend the rest of my life assisting others as God has placed before me.   The pain of abuse can fade somewhat when insecurities of the future set in.  However, the beauty of trust in a strong relationship will demolish the insecurities.  I want to remain faithful and true to this wonderful God I serve.