It’s been a long time since I last posted — but this is a conversation I’ve been wanting to return to.
Scripture often describes the life of faith as a race — not a sprint, but a long, purposeful run marked by endurance, perseverance, and growth.
But many people are trying to run that race while dragging something behind them.
Not sin that God hasn’t forgiven. Not guilt that hasn’t been addressed. But weight they were never meant to carry anymore.
The writer of Hebrews says it plainly:
“Let us strip off every weight that slows us down… and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1, NLT)
Notice the wording: weight — not just sin. Some things slow us down simply because we’re still holding them.
Over the years, I’ve pictured it like this. Imagine running a race with a rope tied around your waist. On the other end of that rope is a heavy rock — representing past failure, shame, regret, or words spoken over you that still echo in your mind.
You’re moving forward. You haven’t quit. But every step is harder than it needs to be.
Many believers live this way without realizing it. They’ve accepted God’s forgiveness in theory, but in practice, they keep dragging reminders of who they used to be.
“I know God forgave me, but I can’t forgive myself.” “I should be further along by now.” “This is just who I am.”
At some point, the race becomes exhausting — not because God is demanding too much, but because we’re carrying what He already released.
Freedom doesn’t begin with trying harder. It begins with letting go.
That’s why I often use the phrase “cut the cord.” Cutting the cord means choosing to believe that if God has forgiven you, you don’t need to keep punishing yourself. It means trusting that grace isn’t just something God offers — it’s something He intends you to live in.
Some people hesitate here. Not because they don’t want freedom — but because they’ve grown used to the weight. And what we’ve carried for a long time can start to feel strangely familiar.
S. Courtney Lawson
Writer and speaker Sandy Lawson recently hit two Amazon.com best-seller lists with the new business book, "Transform," co-authored with best-selling author and speaker Brian Tracy.
Sandy Lawson serves as a Care Pastor at Element Church, in Wentzville Missouri, one of the fastest growing churches America. Sandy recently joined noted business development expert, best-selling author and speaker, Brian Tracy, along with a select group of the world's leading experts, to co-author the book titled, Transform: The World's Leading Entrepreneurs and Professionals Get to the Heart and Soul of Transforming your Life, Business & Health. The book was released on September 18, 2014 by CelebrityPress™ - a leading business book publisher.
On the day of release, Transform reached best-seller status in two Amazon.com categories - reaching as high as #6 in the "Direct Marketing" category. The book also reached best-seller status in the "Marketing and Small Business" category. Sandy contributed a chapter titled, "The Relationship Transformation...Taking Relationships From Terminal to Transformed."
Sandy Lawson has over 30 years of experience partnering with her husband, Kip, in family ministry and outreach. She's had the privilege of serving on staff at three mega churches prior to Element Church. In addition, she and her husband also had the honor of building the bus ministry of the Oneighty Youth Group at Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 400 riders weekly to nearly 1,500 riders each week.
Her biggest joy is coaching people in their personal relationships and helping them reach their God-given potential. She and her husband have helped hundreds of couples turn failing marriages into happily-ever-afters, as well as assisting parents in their quest to create healthy thriving families. In their career, Sandy and her husband have been a major influence in the lives of thousands of children, teens, and adults around the world. Sandy is the mother of three, and the grandmother of eight wonderful grandkids. She and her husband have been married over 46 years.
She is the author of a parenting book, "Parenting Through the Mirror" which explores the concept that great parenting must begin with personal transformation. She is also the author and illustrator of a children's geology book, "Iggy and the Volcano" that teaches kids the cycle of igneous rocks. Sandy is a freelance writer, speaker, blogger and was a major contributor to an internationally distributed children's curriculum.
After such a successful release, Sandy Lawson will once again be recognized by The National Academy of Best-Selling Authors™, an organization that honors authors from many of the leading independent best-seller lists.
View All Posts
scourtneylawson 