Spiritual freedom: Letting go so we can truly follow

By MaryJean Belrose, Canada East Mission Centre Co-President

Spiritual freedom is the ability to live in alignment with God’s purpose, unburdened by fear, guilt, assumptions, and the pressures that hold us back.

Too often, we are bound by invisible chains—past regrets, cultural expectations, the need to control outcomes, or rigid ways of thinking about faith. These chains prevent us from embracing the abundant life that Christ offers. But Jesus calls us into a different kind of freedom—one found in trust, surrender, and openness to the Spirit’s movement.


Breaking Free from What Holds Us Back
Spiritual freedom is not about avoiding responsibility; rather, it is about letting go of whatever keeps us from being fully alive in Christ. Some of the most common barriers include:
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• Fear of Change – We cling to the familiar, even when it no longer serves us. But God is always calling us forward.

"Lift up your eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon to which you are sent. Journey in trust, assured that the great and marvelous work is for this time and for all time.” (D&C 161:1a)

• Guilt and Shame – We hold onto past mistakes, forgetting that grace is greater than our failures. Spiritual freedom means fully accepting God’s forgiveness and extending that same grace to ourselves.
• The Need for Control – We try to orchestrate everything in our lives, resisting God’s leading. But true freedom is found in trusting God's wisdom over our own.
• Rigid Thinking – We sometimes believe there is only one way to experience faith, rather than allowing the Spirit to move in new and unexpected ways.

Jesus modeled spiritual freedom by living fully in God’s love, responding to the Spirit’s leading, and refusing to be bound by fear, cultural expectations, or religious legalism.


Living into Spiritual Freedom
How do we cultivate spiritual freedom in our own lives? Consider these steps

    1. Surrender to God’s Leading
Freedom begins with letting go—letting go of certainty, control, and the need for approval. When we surrender our plans and trust God, we create space for something greater.
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
   2. Embrace Grace
Spiritual freedom means knowing that we are loved exactly as we are. We do not have to prove our worth or earn God's favor. Grace is enough.   
   3. Live with Openness
The Spirit moves in unexpected ways. Spiritual freedom allows us to embrace new ideas, new ways of being church, and new ways of serving others. Ask yourself, “Am I open to where God might be leading me next?”   
   4. Choose Love Over Fear
Fear, judgment, and resentment often hold us captive. But when we choose love, those things lose their power. Jesus showed us that true freedom is found not in self-protection, but in loving and serving others.   
   5. Step Boldly into Your Calling
Spiritual freedom empowers us to step into the fullness of who God created us to be. It means living with purpose, joy, and courage. Whatever your next step is—take it with faith.


The Invitation to Freedom
Jesus didn’t come to place more burdens on us—he came to set us free.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

Spiritual freedom is about living unburdened, fully alive, and open to the Spirit’s transforming movement. It is about trusting that God is leading us somewhere good, even when we cannot see the whole path.

What would it look like for you to walk in spiritual freedom today?