“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

In 1987 Ronald Reagan made those words famous as he gave a speech to the people of West Berlin. Mikhail Gorbachev got a challenge to provide freedom for the Germans. After Reagan made that speech, the obvious could no longer be ignored.

photo credit: snrang (creative commons)

When I think about it, I have been in the exact place Gorbachev was. Though he wanted to control people, I wanted to control the little girl inside of me from coming out to see the world. She had been hurt too much. Building walls up around my heart kept her from coming out and kept people from getting too close. Afterall, if they really knew me, they wouldn’t want to get close anyway. 

Like Reagan’s famous speech, people began to say that to me. Friends that loved me.

“Sundi Jo, tear down those walls.”

I fought it. Though I desperately wanted to let others in I was so afraid of the outcome. But then I started to do it afraid. Slowly, brick by brick, I started to tear down the walls and let those I believed were for me into my heart. As the walls were broken down, the shame started to disappear. With every brick, more of Jesus’ light seemed to shine through.

Two years later there are still a few walls I’m working on, but I’m still rejoicing that it feels like a bull dozer has come into the dark places of my heart and made room for more of God’s love.

Stephen Arterburn writes in Healing Is a Choice: 10 Decisions That Will Transform Your Life and 10 Lies That Can Prevent You From Making Them,

“Tear down those protective walls so that at least one other person can tell you what you need to know about yourself.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. If I hadn’t allowed others in and started tearing down walls, I can imagine what my life would be like. I would still be running to food to solve my problems. Psalm 34:5 wouldn’t be written on my heart. I would still pretend to be this tough girl who didn’t need anyone. My relationships would have possibly disintegrated. The list goes on.

But I don’t have to think of those things, because the walls came down!

Are you like Gorbachev and trying to control so much that freedom isn’t getting close? Are you willing to let go today?