Chain Breaker… How Do I Find Freedom in a World of Expectations?

I am drowning in a sea of unknowns today. Sinking more as the clock turns the hour hand… deeper and deeper I go. Sure, occasionally, after thrashing and flailing my arms in a ridiculous fashion, for a long enough time, I can reach the surface long enough to gasp enough air to say “I am alive”. I am no longer content to live a life of mere survival. I want to rise to the surface, swim to shore, and shout out…. “Thank you Jesus, for saving a wretched soul from the depths of despair!”

But… Is this MY STORY?

In today’s fast paced world, the pressure to conform can feel like an anchor dragging us down into a sea of anxiety and self-doubt. Many of us experience the suffocating grip of cultural expectations- chains that bind us to a version of reality that feels increasingly unmanageable. Just a short bit ago I sat grappling with my own failures, being reminded by the dark powers of time, “You are nothing more than a weak prisoner of all that you will never be”, drowning beneath the weight of perceived inadequacies.

The tides of societal standards could, at any moment, pull us into a cycle of comparison. We can scroll through social media at any given moment, witness our old friend’s seemingly perfect lives, and wonder why isn’t that us? Why did we get cheated, or screw up everything so badly? This comparison breeds despair; when we perceive ourselves as failing- whether it is in our careers, relationships, or personal growth- it becomes a slippery spiral into that dark place of hopelessness.

We absolutely MUST acknowledge that we are not alone in these feelings. Isaiah 41:10 encourages us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.” So many of us are battling the same demons, feeling trapped by the expectations shaped by our families, communities, or society in general. The key to breaking these chains lies in understanding that failure is not the end; rather a mighty catalyst for change. Through our struggles, we discover our authentic selves, untethered from the molds that the world has been trying to impose upon us.

To any of you out there who are feeling trapped and weighted down by your own failings, I want to offer you a lifeline: YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY YOUR SETBACKS! Embrace the discomfort, seek support, and allow yourself to redefine what success looks like for you. By doing this, we can shed this skin of cultural expectations and begin crafting lives that reflect who we were truly born to be. Together, we can navigate these turbulent waters and emerge, not just unscathed, but actually RE-BORN, stronger and more resilient. The chains CAN BE BROKEN, one step at a time.

Please comment, or request personal message from myself if this is a trying time of desperation. You are never alone friend, your life has a purpose. Let’s get you to the beach where we can sit down and breathe together and enjoy the life we are intended to live.