I was given the opportunity to speak at a church this past weekend for the Sunday Service and the Youth that evening. But it was what happened after the services that had me holding back tears. Women and young girls waited to be loved on by Jesus through me as I listened for His voice in prayer.

One young girl, in particular, approached me; I wrapped my arms around her and spoke the life I was hearing the Lord speaking to me on her behalf. Afterward, the young girl squeezed me tightly as she sobbed. I held her in the sweet embrace and reminded her how much Jesus loved her.

She wiped her tears, looked at me with desperate eyes, and said,

“I get so overwhelmed when I think about reading the Bible and living my life for Jesus. Every time I read the Bible, I sink into a miserable mindset that unless I understand every word I am reading, reading the Bible is useless. And then, when I feel like the Lord is telling me to do something, I panic because I don’t want Him to be mad at me, but I feel suffocated. I feel forced to do something I don’t want to do.”

My heart swelled with compassion. Haven’t we all been there at some point? I know I have– the constant feeling of being “forced” into the Christian lifestyle simply because that’s how you are “supposed” to live as Christians… or so you are taught.

Maybe you’re at a season right now where you can relate to this beautiful girl’s struggles in the faith. The Bible is intimidating, but you fear God’s disappointment if you don’t read it. You know you need to stop living a certain way, but hate the feeling of giving up something by force instead of willingly, or worse, you try to stop cold-turkey, only to be brought back to the lifestyle of sin with more passion and more intensity.

You feel like you’re suffocating under the demands of religion and missing out on the joy and freedom everyone else seems to be experiencing.

Does this sound as familiar to you as it does to me?

This battle is birthed through the lies and deception of the enemy. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but God brings life and life in abundance. Feeling trapped in religion is exactly where the enemy wants you to be so he can eventually convince you life without Jesus was much more enjoyable, easy, and liberating.

But the life Jesus offers sets you free from the bondage of religious demands, and that’s the life God intends for us as Christians.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 

In other words, Jesus offers grace for you to give from your heart in a way that brings you joy, not regret. If you open the Bible and start to feel intimidated, the Lord offers you the grace to share your struggles with Him in that moment. Be open to Him and let Him comfort and teach you about His Word. He isn’t concerned with your struggle to understand what you are reading. Instead, He is willing and able to increase your understanding, and your joy, when you allow Him to.

There have been plenty of times I have had the intention to sit down and read the Bible, but when I opened the pages, would sit there without any desire to start reading. Religion says I am disappointing God for not reading the Bible like I know I am supposed to. But Jesus says He has grace for me to sit there and tell Him every reason why I don’t feel like reading the Bible that day. Religion makes you feel worse off than when you first sat down to read, but Jesus gives you the peace and grace to close the Bible and try again another time.

If we continue to allow the enemy to push a religious agenda into our relationship with Jesus, we will crumble under the constant battle of conflicting spirits. In exchange, we miss out on the movements of God in our lives.

Jesus isn’t about religion. He will take you on the most liberating adventures of your life, but you have to be willing to go. However, if you aren’t willing to cheerfully give Him your life or your agenda that day, year, or season, He will not force you. Our goal as Christians isn’t to “fulfill” some religious agenda. It’s about making knowing and enjoying Jesus as the passionate pursuit of our lives.

Then, and only then, will we be able to move past the anger and frustration, and feelings of failure that come from the forced guilt of religion.

Be encouraged today, my friends! Jesus loves you and His grace is sufficient!