In the Middle - Journey to Freedom Part Two

Written by Kylea Bitoka

So, here we are– in the middle of the journey.

Here in this broken and hurting world, we wrestle with our calling to be a people of God.

We want swift rescue and immediate justice.
We want God to show up and fix it all.

Yes, our hope is in Jesus' return, the vision of Revelation 7:9 becoming reality,

But God is not only forming outcomes—He's forming us.

What if life in this broken world is the fire that refines us? 

If God were only concerned with destinations, he could have easily teleported Israel into the promised land, but God has always been about the journey.  

Even when Jesus reaches his hand out and pulls Peter up from those rough waves, the wind doesn't subside until they reach the boat. 

Formation happens in the journey—walking through the storm with your savior, Israel crossing the parted sea, and eating manna in the desert—faith grows. Miracles happen in the journey, but they don’t take us out of the journey because God is forming us. 

Where are we now?
Well, if we call ourselves Christians, our map is the path taken by Jesus.

Following Jesus is not passive.
It means being the hands and feet of love.
It means speaking out against injustice, loving generously, and giving radically.
Because that’s what Jesus did.

Jesus said His disciples would be known by their love—
A good tree bears good fruit.

Look around. The fruit reveals the tree.

In our current culture and political environment, this is a moment of truth. 

Decisions must be made.
Where our true allegiance is revealed.
If Jesus came to set the captives free,
And if the Spirit of God truly lives in us,
Then we've got work to do.

Maybe the fingerprints of God become clear—
When His people take action instead of giving in to complacency.

Not as conquerors,
Not to claim power,
But to bear witness to a different kind of kingdom—
One built not from the top down, but from the bottom up.
A kingdom rooted in love, marked by mercy, carried by justice.

I long for God to move powerfully.

But am I willing to let Him move me?

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  - 2 Corinthians 2:16-18 NIV