So how do we cope with freedom? A few thoughts —
One, grasp this: The freedom that you have is God’s gift.
That may sound fairly abstract, but acknowledging that our freedom is God’s gift and not a right, or our possession, is the key to using our freedom in ways that are life giving and healthy.
We don’t think very often about it, but the best of gifts is also something of a trust — we honor the giver and the giving in the way we use a gift. If your mother gave you a cherished crystal bowl, you wouldn’t intentionally drop it or feed the dog out of it unless you were trying to send a very different kind of message.
To use our freedom with reverence for the giver and the giving is to honor both.
Two, use your freedom in ways that accord with what you know about the will of God. Boundaries are not restrictions or an infringement on your freedom. They are there to promote a life-giving environment for the exercise of freedom. The Olympic athletes that we watched a couple of weeks ago accomplished what they did because they observed a practice schedule, ate wisely, and worked on their technique. From all reports, Bodie Miller’s performance in this Olympics exceeded his performance in earlier competitions because he acknowledged the boundaries.
Three, take responsibility for your freedom. Its exercise does not depend upon others, God is not responsible for how you use it. You are.
Far too many of us wait for permission, blame our choices on others, or choose by not choosing. Taking responsibility for our freedom is not something we can escape.
Four, be creative. Life is a canvas —- not paint by numbers. God delights in what you can do. If you worry about painting in the wrong place or outside of the lines, you will paint very little and leave a far smaller canvas behind.