When Bondage Feels Familiar: Finding Healing and Freedom in Christ

In seasons of bondage, God invites us to surrender what feels familiar and step into His freedom. This blog explores how He reveals lies, heals wounds, and leads us into truth—bit by bit. A powerful encouragement for anyone seeking freedom, inner healing, and God-led transformation.

“There is no freedom in this bondage, only familiarity. I want to become familiar with Your freedom.”

I wrote this in my journal a few years ago, right in the middle of a very dark and difficult season. At the time, I could sense the Lord gently nudging my heart to surrender. I had asked Him to lead me out of that dark place, but I also pleaded with Him to be gentle and patient with me. My grip on what I was holding—even if it was hurting me—felt too familiar to easily release.

Sometimes bondage is obvious—a habit, a relationship, a mindset. Sometimes it's hidden in the beliefs we carry about ourselves, in the lies we've unknowingly agreed with for far too long. And for this I believe that the best place to begin is in prayer. Davids words in Psalm 139 say,

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

When you invite God to search your heart— He will. He will gently uncover things that may have been buried under years of pain, shame, or fear. He will reveal the beliefs and behaviors that are keeping you stuck. He will give you eyes to see and when He does, He won’t shame you—He’ll offer you freedom.

I have seen in my own life where the breaking of bondages can happen in an instant. One moment, something snaps, and you’re free. I have also experienced where it can take time. Sometimes, in these moments, it's slow and painful — like pulling out a deeply rooted thorn. This is because there needs to be a deep healing with the breaking of the bondage.

God knows us. He knows what we’re ready for. He knows how to deal with each heart individually, with gentleness and patience.

The day I wrote that line in my journal—“There is no freedom in this bondage, only familiarity. I want to become familiar with Your freedom”—was the day something began to shift in me. That sentence was my heart starting to relinquish control. The Lord was asking me to surrender something that I had built part of my identity around: a false belief I had carried about myself for years. I needed to let it go, but I had become familiar with it.

Sometimes it can feel impossible to let go of a belief about ourselves even though we know it's harmful and damaging to us. The truth sounds so good, but is it possible to find freedom?

Yes, it is.

In this case, it didn't happen immediately. It took time. He worked on my heart bit by bit. Tears were shed. Lies were exposed to truth. My soul was poured out before God, which allowed him to mend the wounds. That is how I received freedom. Not all at once, but bit by bit.

If you are longing for freedom today, know this: it is possible. But freedom comes with surrender. It starts with a heart that is willing to be searched, broken, and remade. A heart that is earnestly searching for truth.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to come to God with a heart posture of submission. You need to want truth more than you want comfort. You need to want freedom more than you want familiarity.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

That’s the promise. If you seek Him—you will find Him. If you ask Him for freedom, He will do it. He delights in setting His children free. He isn’t distant or indifferent to your pain. He is near to the brokenhearted.

So here’s my encouragement to you today:

• Pray Psalm 139. Ask God to search your heart and reveal what needs healing or releasing.

• Name the bondage. If you already know what false belief or bondage you’re holding onto, speak it aloud. Call it what it is. Lies lose power when they’re brought into the light. If your bondage is a false belief, habit, etc. expose it to the light.

• Exchange it for truth. Ask God to show you what He says instead. Open your Bible. Write down the truth. Speak it over yourself.

• Be patient with the process. Healing can take time. Freedom with healing is sometimes a journey, not a moment. But don’t give up. God is working even when you can’t see it.

Bit by bit. Moment by moment. He will set you free.

May we no longer become familiar with bondage, but freedom.