Ananda Etkin / Global Missions Ministry Assistant

“Nothing is impossible

Every chain is breakable

With You, we are victorious”

These are a few lyrics of a new song that we have been singing in church by Rend Collective called “We are More Than Conquerors.” I have always been drawn to songs that talk about breaking chains. It might be because I love word pictures and, for me, visualizing heavy links of chain being broken into pieces is very dramatic. But on a more personal level, it has more to do with the “chains” that my parents and my in-laws broke with the help of God. 

Our family is like many others in the respect that we have our share of dysfunction and hurt that goes back generations. The chains of addiction, abuse, negativity, alcoholism, etc… are all present in our family tree. Those “chains” of sin are unbelievably strong and are very often passed down from generation to generation. A son learns from his father how to use his words to hurt and cut down others or a daughter learns from her mother that several drinks can ease the pain. 

Today, I am praising God that “...every chain is breakable...” no matter how strong the links are!! With the help of the Lord, my parents, along with David’s parents, were able to break many of the very destructive and hurtful chains that were present in our families. And because of their commitment to turn their lives around and break the cycle of dysfunction in their own families, David and I are able to raise our daughters in a home where there is no abuse and no alcoholism. We pray that they will grow to then raise their families in the same way, so that our parent’s strength, along with the grace of God, will greatly impact generations to come. 

“And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:2