You Are Set Free!

One Sabbath day, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, and the Bible says, “A woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years” (Luke 13:10–13 NIV). Can you imagine how hopeless this woman must have felt? For 18 long years, she had endured this debilitating condition.

Perhaps you are struggling with some issue in your life today that has persisted for a long time. You feel as though you’ve tried everything, but to no avail. Like the woman in this story, you still find yourself “crippled” by something out of your control.

Thankfully, the Bible promises us, “With God ALL things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). When you’re unable to help yourself, and no human has a solution to your problem, God can break through your troubling circumstances and set you free!

The story goes on to say that this woman “was bent over and could not straighten up at all.” This is such an apt picture of what it’s like to be burdened down with sins, sicknesses, or other situations that seem overwhelming. Sometimes the cares of life are simply too much for us to handle, and all we can do is cast our burdens on the Lord (Psalm 55:22).

Notice that the woman was unable to straighten up “at all.” Sometimes we still have hopes that we can straighten things out by our own strength and ingenuity. But this woman had come to the end of her own devices. She needed a miracle— something only God could do!

However, despite years of suffering, everything was about to change for her in mere moments. Luke 13:12 NIV says, “Jesus saw her” and “called her forward.” Friend, no matter what you are going through today, you can be sure of this: Jesus sees what you are going through. He cares about you. And He’s calling you forward to draw near to Him, so you can receive His healing touch.

After 18 years of suffering, this distressed woman heard Jesus tell her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity” (v. 12 NIV). The Greek word for infirmity is astheneia, which means to be feeble or have a lack of strength. Perhaps you can relate!

Pause and insert your own name into the powerful statement Jesus made to the crippled woman: “[Your Name], you are set free from your infirmity.” As you allow those words to sink deeply into your heart, faith will rise. Troubles that have persisted for years will melt away more quickly than you can imagine as you’re set free in Jesus’ mighty name!

Take time this month to meditate on these life-giving Scriptures:

Week One
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17

Week Two
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:36

Week Three
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Week Four
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
Romans 6:22