Check it out here: https://www.ibelieve.com/health-beauty/have-you-taken-captive.html
Captive. A noun or adjective meaning imprisoned or confined; a person or animal that has been taken prisoner or confined.
Like prison bars and hollow boxes of glass, my mind has been taken captive for far longer than I’d like to admit. At age fourteen, I developed unhealthy habits that would fester themselves into wounds called core beliefs I would carry for the rest of my life.
Thoughts that have now stamped themselves onto my identity often make it difficult for me to see who God has created me to be. I’ve been taken captive by the enemy, but it’s happened so gradually, I didn’t learn to run until the iron bars were set and my hopes began to fade. In the book of Psalms, 126 highlights a similar feeling of captivity.
According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, Psalm 126 was most likely written from Ezra or a Jewish prophet’s point of view regarding the return of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity.
While the Psalmist sang of a time when God set His people free from their captivity, and they were restored to Jerusalem (Zion), the song also highlights that while some miraculous saving has occurred, there is still much work to be furthered. Thus, a cry for a complete restoration, not partial, is evident.
Especially as I’ve been suffering in a sea of anxiety, depression, mental illness, and chronic pain, this Psalm has become my prayer.
“When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion (or the Lord restored the fortunes of), we were like men who dreamed (, or men restored to health)” (Psalm 126:1, NIV).
In this first verse, I want to point out our Psalmist’s word tense and declaration. “Brought back” indicates past tense, as in this is something that has already happened. So, in a sense, these people have gotten a taste of being brought back from captivity, and as a result, they gained laughter, joy, and rejoicing in the great things the Lord did for them.
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:2-3, NIV).
Immediately after being brought back from captivity, these people who were rescued not only felt restored to health, but they received a joy that Scripture defines as something that can only come from Him. The sweet reward was a blessing God had already done; past tense.
By verse four, however, we learn that complete restoration is still profoundly longed for and imagined despite this partial rescue from captivity. So, as a result, our Psalmist says yes, some are still in captivity, but we will continue to declare what will be even if it isn’t here now.
“Restore our fortunes (bring back our captives) O Lord, like streams in the Negev” (Psalm 126:4, NIV).
Present tense, restore, tells us to repair, bring back, keep fighting, believing, and receiving, for we’ve seen what God can do (verse 1), but we’re longing for Him to keep doing it (verse 4).
As a sufferer of mental illness, I know I am not the first to say that it is one of the most challenging battles you will ever face. When Satan distorts your mind, he has access to the heart that guides your soul. And once he’s captured and taken captive your heart, you’re a slave living in a body that Christ has already set free.
Today, I know intellectually that my physical and mental health is getting better. I can see small moments of improvement, and I believe the Lord is doing work in me. I praise him for every day that I do experience joy and not being in pain. I have tasted some freedom and been brought back from captivity time and time again.
On most days, though, I struggle to see that truth with clear vision. I do not see the good days but the ones Satan illuminates in the darkness. Often, I feel too much in my head and not enough in the present moment. I am taken captive and crippled by my past, present, and future struggles.
But you know what? Those brought from captivity in Psalms 126 felt this way, too. They were able to look their captors in the eye and say God has brought back the captives and He will bring back those who are still held captive.
Although some of my physical health problems are showing signs of progress, and therefore, some of my captivity is being set-free, other parts like my mental health continue to linger, and that’s okay.
Because I am learning to get out of my head one day at a time, I will rejoice, for I know that the Lord will bring back the rest of me from captivity, and I know He can do the same for you. For a while, we may have pain, transgressions, tears, and sorrows now, but His joy will be our reward.
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (Psalm 126: 5-6, NIV).
Since we sow (present tense), let us know that the other side of weeping is rejoicing, and I will rejoice from within the sorrow. We will continue to carry what the Lord’s already given us, a foretaste here on Earth of what we will get when we get to the eternity of Heaven. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow (hope), will return with joy and sheaves (a bundle of grain; a reward; something in exchange for the hard work), and that’s a holy promise.
As I continue to wait on the Lord to deliver me fully, I am not resting stagnant but actively pursuing steps to sow my seed in the right direction. Just as a farmer plants a crop and waits for it to grow, I’m cultivating hope, faith, and joy amid my captivity, knowing that total freedom is on the other side. Even if I never see that this side of Heaven, I believe that someday I will, and God has good plans in store for me until that day comes.
I will sow my tears in faith.
I will bury the seed, praying for redemption.
I will declare freedom over my mind and body even when the prison bars rattle around me and try to trap me inside.
I will no longer be a captive, for Jesus Christ has already set the captives free and is redeeming every part of captivity down to the heart, mind, and soul of our very being. We are hungry, but we sow our weary seeds in joy.
“It was like a dream come true when you freed us from our bondage and brought us back to Zion! We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness. We were left shouting for joy and singing your praise. All the nations saw it and joined in, saying, “The Lord has done great miracles for them!” Yes, he did mighty miracles and we are overjoyed! Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again. Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing” (Psalm 126, TPT).
Agape, Amber
Emy
What a powerful message of hope for those of us who struggle daily with mental health issues and physical issues that come as a result of the illness or from complications from the medicines taken for the illness. Thank you for your openness and honesty in your struggles. It’s a comfort to know as a Christian that I’m not alone in this spiritual battle that isn’t easily understood by others who don’t know the struggles of where the mind goes in this and how much of a fight we do put up, even though it doesn’t always appear that we’re trying our hardest through the lies and emotions that come from them to get back to Truth and to get to the place where we believe in what we Know about God’s Love for us and how valuable we are to Him and who we really are and not what the illness is telling us we are. Restoration is what we need into every lie we believe at the time. And Hope is greatly needed when you can’t trust your own thoughts or emotions that come from them. It can be so isolating. But Jesus is the Answer. And submitting to His Truth and Trusting Him for my Redemption and in His timing while I do my part He calls me to do and pray He uses it all for His Glory. Thank you for sharing the Truth of yourself in your struggles and as God Redeems you. God bless you on your Journey as you walk through it with Him.
ambernginter
Awe, thank you so much, Emy! I really appreciate you reaching out and am so glad this post was helpful for you. You are truly welcome. I try to write with full vulnerability and transparency for the sake of the Gospel and Christ’s workings in my life. Please know you are not alone. I can really relate to those feelings. I was just telling my counselor yesterday that unless you suffer from these issues, you will not understand. Many people don’t get this. We who do, must unite, stand, and encourage one another. Restoration/hope from the Lord is what we all need, indeed. Amen. May God bless you this week!
Emy
May God bless you too Amber! Standing together for encouragement and strength and prayer to Journey forward is so needed as the support groups of those going through mental illness have declined or appear non existent anymore, especially those who are trying to follow Christ and understand His ways and His truth in all of it and know we’re fighting a spiritual battle. Praying that we know we’re not alone in this battle in life and for support and encouragement for all battling this on our Journeys, so we can truly know who we are in Christ and how He can use it for God’s glory in our lives and the lives of others. Connectedness is much needed in the form of support groups in my opinion. Thanks for your response back to me. It helps make me feel Connected to someone who truly understands the real daily struggles but is also searching for Truth in all of it. Thanks Amber. God bless you.