The Channel Tunnel — or the “Chunnel,” as it’s often called — is an underwater tunnel more than thirty-one miles long linking France and Great Britain. Though the idea for this tunnel was introduced in the early 1800s, construction of the actual project didn’t take place until nearly two centuries later and required six years of work and billions of dollars. Today, trains zip through the ocean carrying passengers and goods from one country to another at high speeds, making it a modern marvel for sure.
The thought of it makes my heart race, but not in a good way. More like a nightmare-come-true sort of way.
It’s not the fact that traveling in this manner requires riding on a train, although I’ll admit to having a deep, lifelong fear of trains. No, it’s the idea of being underwater, inside a tunnel, in a moving vehicle for so long that makes me panic. Thinking about being trapped and unable to escape literally takes my breath away.
Having never traveled to England or France, I had no idea I was afraid of the Chunnel until a friend mentioned it recently. It came up in a conversation about her vacation and places we’ve seen in our travels. In the blink of an eye, my brain went from dredging up all the memories I could find of mountains and roadside parks to pulling the shutters tight against the thought of being inside a train inside a tunnel under a large body of water. “Oh, I can’t even talk about it!” I declared, practically fanning myself at the mere thought of this voluntary imprisonment — I mean, mode of transportation.
It’s the same way I react to suggestions that I take a cruise. Trapped on a boat in the middle of an ocean so vast I can’t see land in any direction? No, thank you! It’s the same way I feel when my husband works long hours on the night shift and I’m stuck at home caring for my daughters, while my friends meet for happy hours and Zumba classes, book clubs and Pampered Chef parties. And it’s the same way I feel when I get too caught up in my darkest, most damaging fears and failures, spiraling into a pit that presses in from every side.
Stuck.
Tied down.
Trapped.
While chunnel travel (and cruises) are clearly not triggers for everyone, I don’t think I’m the only one who fears being trapped. I’m reminded of the meme I’ve seen that says, “As a child, I was led to believe quicksand would be a bigger problem.” It shows several images from movies and cartoons from the 80s and 90s where people are trapped in quicksand. It’s so true! But I don’t actually think the prevalence of characters caught in quicksand indicates a belief that the problem is all that common. Instead, I think it simply shows that we are all afraid of being trapped. After all, just as common as quicksand emergencies in our TV shows and movies are, are scenes where someone is trapped in a bank vault or restaurant freezer, buried underground, or stuck in a car submerged in water.
We do not like to be trapped.
We long to be free.
It’s how we’ve been designed.
From the very beginning of time, humans have struggled for freedom and with all the consequences that come with those battles. In the Garden, we struggled for independence, knowledge, and power by eating the fruit. In Egypt, we struggled for freedom from slavery; then in the desert, we became desperate for freedom from uncertainty and daily dependence on God. Over centuries, we’ve repeatedly become trapped in all kinds of sin, eventually crying out for salvation when we crave freedom from the things we thought would release us from the bonds of our own minds and hearts.
It’s complicated and convoluted, a vicious cycle we can’t seem to escape. Temptation and delusion. Sin and bondage. Desperation and repentence. Finally, salvation . . . until it begins again. It’s a real mess, really. And yet, it’s not hopeless. We aren’t doomed to remain trapped in the cycle of sin and oppression. We aren’t destined to slide into the muck and mud of life every time it appears. At every turn, God is offering us freedom. In every circumstance, He is there — arms open wide, waiting to rescue us from the prison we’ve walked ourselves into.
Throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to Revelation, God reveals His plans to rescue us, His intentions to give us the freedom we crave. He reassures us that rescue is coming, that He won’t leave us sinking in sand or rattling our chains. He will not leave us trapped in either the circumstances this world has buried us under or the consequences we’ve pulled onto our own heads by our choices. God promises that freedom will be ours, and then He tells us that freedom is found in Christ. He doesn’t just say He has a plan; He tells us exactly what it is! And then He doesn’t even stop there. He explains why He saves us. He says,
He is coming to free us (Isaiah 61:1, John 8:32);
Freedom is found in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:1-2, Hebrews 2:14-15);
Our freedom brings eternal salvation and an abundant life (Romans 6:22, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16).
If you’re feeling trapped today, stuck in a cycle of sin or circumstance, certain that quicksand is real, don’t despair! Just like many will celebrate freedom and independence in the United States this week, followers of Christ of every nation can celebrate freedom in Him. No matter where we were born or where we live today, no matter what life has thrown at us, no matter what earthly limits we’ve been given, each one of us is offered freedom in Christ. And while it may not change our physical circumstances or the reality of our broken world, that freedom will be the deep breath of fresh air we so desperately need. It will be the overwhelming flood of cleansing water we need to wash away every fear and worry and regret and shame. It will break the chains of temptation and despair, loosening our arms and legs as we stand stronger in Him, ready to face the next battle that will inevitably come our way.
The freedom God offers through belief in and salvation from Jesus is bigger and stronger than any tunnel, any closet, any box or pit or lake of quicksand. And every day with the Lord is one we can celebrate freedom because in Christ, we are free indeed.
At every turn, God is offering us freedom. In every circumstance, He is there -- arms open wide, waiting to rescue us from the prison we've walked ourselves into. -@marycarver: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Mary,
Though I don’t have “Chunnelphobia”, I do have several memories of “I gotta get out of here.” One that comes readily to mind is going down into a submarine. As I walked through the narrow corridors with no windows, I wondered how on earth people live down here for months at a time? Before I could finish that thought, I had a panic attack and knew I had to get out of there, and in a hurry. I not so politely pushed people aside as I made my way to the narrow set of stairs that would lead me to sunshine, fresh air, and freedom. Needless to say, I have never gone down in any other submarines. I have been stuck in the muck and mire…the quicksand of life and when I have called upon the Lord, and waited (often not so patiently) on the Lord, He has heard my cry and lifted me out of the mud and mire. That’s why Psalm 40:1-3 has been my life verse. So thankful that Christ died so that we are able to walk in perfect freedom. With Him, there are no constraints binding us. He paid His life so that we could walk in freedom. Our job is to do so.
Iwaited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Oh man, just the THOUGHT of a submarine freaks me out! But that psalm – it always, always speaks soothing truth.
Slipping into the summer routine can sometimes feel like a rut to me, triggering all the claustrophobic symptoms–and some attitude as well. Your words are a helpful push in the direction of celebration for all the things I “get to” do because I am free in Christ and he has blessed me with work to do and the strength to get it done.
I hadn’t thought of a season creating that trapped feeling, but what you said makes sense! So does your reminder about what we GET TO DO. Thanks for sharing, Michele!
Hey friend,
Despite being a Brit who’s been through the Chunnel on numerous occasions I hear you. Being trapped anywhere is no fun. Being trapped emotionally has its own set of fears and panics worthy moments.
Freedom in Christ, like America’s freedom (from us Brits!) came at a huge price. The only difference was that Christ paid the price for us when it comes to our spiritual freedom!
Such a great post. So good.
Xx
Ahhhh, so much shade I threw at you Brits with this post – unintentionally, I promise! 🙂 Yes, though – freedom has a price, and I’m so grateful we don’t have to pay for ours.
As I read this, I think of my baby sister who is trapped by progressive MS. Yesterday we visited her to celebrate her 72nd birthday. It is becoming more difficult for her to feed herself and at the end of the meal, I fed her the delicious carrot cake her daughter brought.
There are no words to describe the pain I feel to see this beautiful, wonderful, kind, compassionate and health and exercise participant, slowly lose her ability to do all the daily functions that most of us take for granted.
And yet, she handles it all with dignity and inner strength that only comes from the grace of God. Some months ago, she began reading the Scripture–beginning with Genesis. This has been the crowning glory of our relationship as we share and talk about God’s love letter to us.
All of this to say that her spirit can never be trapped. She is free on Christ.
What an incredible testimony your sister’s life is, Patty! Wow. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Our spirit can never be trapped!
As I read this, I think of my baby sister who is trapped by progressive MS. Yesterday we visited her to celebrate her 72nd birthday. It is becoming more difficult for her to feed herself and at the end of the meal, I fed her the delicious carrot cake her daughter brought.
There are no words to describe the pain I feel to see this beautiful, wonderful, kind, compassionate and health and exercise participant, slowly lose her ability to do all the daily functions that most of us take for granted.
And yet, she handles it all with dignity and inner strength that only comes from the grace of God. Some months ago, she began reading the Scripture–beginning with Genesis. This has been the crowning glory of our relationship as we share and talk about God’s love letter to us.
All of this to say that her spirit can never be trapped. She is free in Christ.
I left a comment but don’t see it.
Mary,
I’m right there with you on chunnelphobia-basically I have claustrophobia. Do not put me in closed in places like elevators & not have them move. I will scream & have panic attacks. We’ve all been in the muck & mire of daily living. There is no way to avoid it down here. Most of us wait on God impatiently, of course. His timing isn’t ours. Praise God He freed us from the slavery of sin & ordinary living. We need to saddle up our horses we’ve got trails to blaze with God. He has a great journey planned for each of us. We just need to get on board with Him. In Christ there is so much freedom. People think the Christian life is a bunch of rules & regulations we have to follow. Not so. It is freedom from sin & eternal death. It is a glorious life riddled with ups, downs & a few miracles sprinkled in. There’s no telling what’s right around the bend for each of us. Only God knows. Let’s daily celebrate our freedom from slavery of all kinds, worship & thank God for this abundant life!
Blessings 🙂
Beth, I love the way you describe the freedom God’s given us to go on an incredible adventure with Him! Such a great visual for the Truth we see in Scripture.
I love the visual you provide, Mary, toward the end of your post: “the deep breath of fresh air we so desperately need, the overwhelming flood of cleansing water to wash away fear and worry and regret and shame, the loosening of chains of temptation and despair, loosening our arms and legs as we stand stronger in Him.” I’m dancing in my spirit, in the freedoms provided by my gracious Heavenly Father! Thank you, Mary!
Thank you for your kind words, Nancy. I’m so grateful this post encouraged you today! Yes…let’s dance! 🙂