Life and fear have joined in unity.
Life is no longer lived the way our Father intended.
A life lived loving, a life full of zeal, a life of truth and trust.
Instead, our lives are unsteady and blinded by the past,
by layer upon layer of scar tissue.
Each new layer placed on top of the last.
Unhealed and infected.
Seen only through empty eyes, emotionless, nearly lifeless.

Lost, untrusted, untrusting.
Pulling away from family and friends.
Habitually gathering the practiced emotions from deep inside.
Pushing them to the surface as expected.

Be strong.
Weakness forms victims.
Fear forms walls.

Grace is the only freedom from this life of self-torture.
Yet, it feels as though it is not within our grasp.
Time is the warden slamming the jail cell shut.
Peace is the key, hidden in our lonely hearts.