UNTYING
verb: to free from something that ties, fastens, or restrains; to disengage the knotted parts of something, resolve
“He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.” Mark 4:34
Untying something can be difficult. The longer a knot has existed, the harder it is to undo. I kind of like the challenge. Give me any shoe with a week-old, kid-tightened shoelace knot, and I will work it loose relentlessly. The smiles of relief and surprise are worth the sacrifice of time and messed up fingernails.
But the real expert on untying is Jesus.
In this verse, he is not untying shoelaces; he is untying truth. He is explaining the meaning of his stories, helping his disciples to understand God’s message of love and reconciliation.
And Jesus is the one who can untie our knots and bring us clarity, freedom, and joy.
We all have questions about God and the Bible that we can’t resolve on our own. Some of us have been hurt or disappointed by churches and religious people. Jesus brings clarity here. His message of love isn’t supposed to be complicated or hurtful. Sometimes we humans mess that up. But he never does. He can untangle the emotions, the bitterness, the confusion, and help us to understand the truth.
He brings freedom too. Many of us are bound by calendars and schedules that don’t even allow us to breathe sometimes. He offers to help us rest in the middle of the overwhelming week or day when there’s too much to do and not enough time. He whispers encouragement and fills us with strength that we can’t muster up on our own. He quiets us with his constant presence, breathing peace and relaxing our spirits when we look to him.
And Jesus brings joy. As we take his promises to heart, we can surrender our fears and doubts to him. We can trust him to heal us within and restore our strained relationship with him. We can find hope even in the most difficult times. We can be absolutely sure that he is in control and will never leave us. We can celebrate as he replaces our fears with overwhelming joy.
Invite Him In
Can you relax and let Jesus untie you? He wants to free you from your confusion, your stress, and your fear. He knows everything that binds your heart and mind, and he will patiently work out the knots. He loves you so much. Let him surprise you with the relief and joy that comes from trusting him.
Excerpted with permission from Just One Word, by Susie Crosby, published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 97408. Copyright 2018, Susie Crosby. www.harvesthousepublishers.com