Breaking Free from Life's Mountains: When Jesus Meets Us in Our Mess
Have you ever felt trapped, going in circles with no way out? Like you're climbing an endless mountain with no summit in sight? Solomon Snowzell from Courageous Church in Charleston recently shared a powerful message about Jesus's heart for freedom that speaks directly to those moments when we feel most lost.
Drawing from his own experience during a grueling 50-mile hike that stretched far longer than expected, Solomon painted a vivid picture of what it feels like to be trapped. His team expected to reach their checkpoint at 1 AM but didn't arrive until 4 AM, exhausted and demoralized. This physical experience became a metaphor for the spiritual and emotional prisons we often find ourselves in—whether it's addiction, broken relationships, career struggles, or cycles of shame and guilt.
Jesus Doesn't Recoil from Our Mess
The heart of Solomon's message centered on the story of Legion from Mark 5—a man so tormented by demons that he lived among the tombs, cut himself with stones, and couldn't be restrained even by chains. This wasn't just a troubled individual; this was someone at rock bottom, completely isolated and broken.
Yet when Jesus encountered Legion, He didn't run away or judge the man's condition. Instead, Jesus embraced him within his mess. This powerful truth challenges our tendency to believe we need to clean ourselves up before approaching God. Legion was naked, bloody, screaming, and possessed—yet Jesus saw hope and potential for freedom.
The Ripple Effect of One Transformed Life
What makes this story even more remarkable is its aftermath. When Jesus later returned to the same region (Mark 7:31-32), the people who had previously begged Him to leave were now begging Him for healing. Why? Because Legion's transformation had created a ripple effect throughout the entire community.
Solomon shared a modern example from Cambodia, where his brother Jordan reached out to Jaden, a drug dealer and gang member. Despite initial rejection, persistent love and connection led to Jaden's dramatic transformation. Today, Jaden pastors a church in Cambodia, proving that one seed of the gospel can multiply into countless changed lives.
Four Practical Steps to Freedom
Solomon outlined four key principles from Jesus's approach:
Leave the crowd to find the one - Jesus left His ministry to cross the lake for one desperate man
Hear every cry - Jesus could hear Legion's screams across the water while ministering
Think about others' needs over your own - Jesus didn't rest but immediately went to help
Don't judge the soil, just sow the seed - Jesus didn't write off Legion based on his condition
Your Freedom Impacts Others
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this message is the reminder that our personal freedom isn't just about us. Behind every "yes" to Jesus are countless other lives that will be impacted. When we break free from our own mountains of struggle, we become equipped to help others find their way down too.
As Solomon powerfully concluded, "To give freedom, we need to receive freedom." Jesus is still the jailbreaker who meets us in our mess, breaks our chains, and transforms not just our lives but the lives of everyone around us.