A Soul in Prison

I have never been incarcerated, but I have known people who have.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to wake up each morning with little hope of hugging—or even seeing—a loved one.  The same old routine every day; the same old faces; the same old cell bars; and the same old feelings of hopelessness are constant reminders of what put them there in the first place.

If only I hadn’t done it.  I’m forgotten in here.  This loneliness is unbearable.  I wish I could do it all over again.  Peace has forsaken me.  These statements are probably just a few examples of the thoughts that can run through a person’s mind during the weary days of incarceration.

Though I was fortunate not to end up in prison because of my rebellious spirit in the past, I do know what it was like to be imprisoned by sin before I met the Lord.

All of those thoughts about forfeited freedom were thoughts that haunted me night after night.  I would pillow my head, trying to turn off the anxiety, restlessness, regrets, and lack of peace that came from running from God.  Yet, try as I might, the next morning brought the same empty feeling—the same old things that had plagued me the day before. 

It seemed as though I was vacillating back and forth between good and evil thoughts.  The Holy Spirit was on the good side of life, trying to get my attention, while the devil was on the other side, tightening the chains of bondage a little tighter.

I was actually suffering in my spirit because sin had separated me from the only One who had the key to my imprisoned soul.

But God’s love was greater than the prison bars that were holding me captive.

As soon as I repented of my sins, the prison door flung wide open.  For the first time in years, I experienced true freedom as Jesus took me by the hand and led me out of the bondage that had held me fast.

I experienced peace because the Prince of Peace had set me free.

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

We no longer have to suffer under the condemnation of our past wrongdoing.  When we come to Christ, our past does not have the final word.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1

My soul was set free because of God’s amazing grace.

Written by,

Papa Boyd