Coming Out Of The Tombs - Boy Mom... Send Help!

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
Matthew 8:28-33

There was a graveyard near our house when I was a child. It was a small, old, unkept graveyard. I always thought it was interesting to read the headstones as some of them dated back to the 1800s. They often would put the cause of death above any epitaph and dates. One row stands out above the rest. They all had the same last name…they were all children. A mother had lost several of her children to consumption. It broke my heart for those who lived before the days of modern medicine and technology. If I was bored as a little girl and had exhausted my backyard swing and frog-catching activities I’d ask my mom if we could go over to the cemetery and read the tombstones. Kind of an odd activity now that I think about it, but the history of such an old cemetery felt like I had stumbled onto an old artifact and was learning all about an older era.

Jesus also found himself near a graveyard as he entered the country of Gergesenes.

Matthew 8:28- And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

I’ve thought about so many things when I read this passage.

How long had these two men been tormented by these evil spirits?

Did they have families waiting for them to get well and come back home to them?

Were their mothers crying out to God and wondering if He would ever break them free?

Did these men long to be released from this imprisonment?

Did they want to be whole?

Did they long for Someone to come along and cast these tormenting spirits out but didn’t even have the strength to cry out for help anymore?

While I was ruminating on all these questions it was one that invaded my thoughts above all…why did they dwell among the tombs?

Then in an instant, I related to these men. No, praise God, I do not have devils possessing my body but I do find myself walking among dead places. Places that allow torment to flood my mind. It could be past guilt of failures of mothering. Maybe it’s the past that I’ve never really been healed from. Maybe it’s the pain resulting from living in a sinful world and the effects someone else’s sin has had on me. Maybe it’s my own guilt and shame from mistakes I make over and over again. But you begin to move forward and live life in victory then…BAM…that memory pops up. It lingers. Then it invades your emotions and begins to filtrate actions. Before you know it you are trying to “come out from among the tombs.” You are trying to escape all the things you thought were dead and buried but here you are again…among them, feeling helpless and defeated.

I absolutely love the verse:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” -2 Corinthians 3:17

Those men had no power on their own to keep themselves from going back to that graveyard. The enemy wanted them stuck there, in the place they didn’t belong. And that is right where the enemy wants us because the past robs us of our future.

Maybe it’s a lack of forgiveness that keeps us wandering around dead places. Maybe it’s our own sin. Fortunately for those two men, and us, there was and is hope! “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” I feel like that verse needs to end with an exclamation point…or twenty!

There are libraries of books that have been written on forgiveness, breaking chains, or healing past hurts. But they are all meaningless without hope! Because of our Hope in Jesus and His promises we know that when we take action to quit going back to “the tombs” God releases all of heaven’s power to back us up.

When we stop dwelling…God provides freedom!

When we renew our mind with scripture…God provides peace!

When we make a choice to forgive…God provides strength!

When we focus on gratitude…God provides joy!

When we lean into God and believe His words are true…He provides healing!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57

I don’t think you have made it a hobby to wander into cemeteries. Most people don’t unless they visit the resting place of a loved one. But I encourage you to not make it a hobby to wander into dead places in your life. Jesus stopped in that town knowing there were two men who desperately needed freedom. They couldn’t even ask for it themselves, at least anymore; but God met them there and in an instant granted their freedom.

If freedom is what you desire today you don’t have to look very far. God is there with you, among your dead places…to make you ALIVE AGAIN. Won’t you let Him?

Dear God,

I pray for anyone reading this today who time and time again finds themselves dwelling among the dead places. I pray that we would believe all Your promises you have spoken over us. God, You do the impossible things and right now this freedom feels impossible. Lord, do what only You can do. Help us and equip us with the strength to be able to act in obedience so that your power can be unleashed and flooded over us. Let our lives so radically change that those around us no longer see a person bound but free! Let us feel your presence and comfort as no one else can! In Jesus Name…AMEN!