When my 16 yr old was Imprisoned. And How She Got Free.

My sixteen year old was imprisoned yesterday.  Stuck behind brick walls.  Waiting.  For something….anything at all.

Her friends remained there with her…..for nearly two hours.  Emotions rising.  Texting.  Twittering.  Trying to find a communication source outside the grounds….in hopes to figure out what was going on.

Rumor has it…..A potential man with a gun was walking around campus. 

No one saw him.  No one heard him.  Yet, the swat team was ready.  They stood outside my daughter’s 4th period, positioned with guns, stoic across their chests.

Upon my first knowledge…..I get a text.  “Mom…..we are on lockdown.” Meaning….the school is shut tight, in hopes to protect those inside…..from any possible threat.

And we waited.  We text.  Tensions rising like Mount Saint Helens…..inside every student.

Rumor had it that a man robbed a gun store the night before.  And that a strange person walked into an elementary school asking all kinds of questions.

And how often have we lived on, the cliff of our emotions.  So ready to respond to any potential harm that might come near…..Even if it’s not even real. 

So…..as a precaution…..the whole area was to be on caution.  Thus, locking my daughter in her 4th period room.  For almost two hours.

And….I think of all the times I have been so foolish.  Grabbing rumors, or even perceived threats….and instead of walking bold…..deciding to hunker down.  Letting fears rule.  Freezing in life….instead of moving forward.

And a story I heard as a little girl pops into my head. One from Sunday School.

Missionaries. In Africa.  Surrounded by a real threat.  Men with guns and lights at night.  Screaming how they were going to burn down the building the missionaries were in….with their families and children inside.

And what did the missionaries do?  Not hide…..

They worshiped.  In fact, they stayed up all night.  Did nothing but worship and pray.  And by morning…..

The warriors.  The threat.  It literally, physically packed up and went away.  Never to return again.

And what if we stayed up all night through our fears….and worshiped and prayed….instead of hunkering in fear?  What in our lives might change?

Paul and Silas.  One of my favorite Bible stories. Were physically bound inside real bars.  And as they worshiped….the doors came a jar.  And they were set free.

And sometimes I think we get it wrong….

• We don’t worship because we are Holy.  Worship is our sanctification.  
• We don’t worship only when we are free first.  We worship….in order to be set free.

And how often we wait til we are perfect to come to Christ? When God wants us now.  Where we are.  Even if we are locked inside…..spiritual bars…that only we can see..

And as I encourage my daughter in Christ….through texting.  I open the Bible and instantly find….

“Peace.  Do not fear.  You are not going to die.”  ~  Judges 6:23

And the position of my daughter….there locked inside….becomes no longer a victim to apparent danger….no one has yet seen or even identified.

Her position is to stand. And worship.  And proclaim the goodness and magnificence of Christ…..

Regardless of where she is…..regardless of where we are……

In life.

What do you think?  Can you worship where you are?  Right now?  In your life?

Linking today w/ Emily @ Imperfect Prose,