Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Dr. Chris Stroble / Published October 14, 2025
My son was recently hired as a musician at a local United Methodist church. He is the pianist. It’s his first job. A few years ago, either his teacher or I bought him a praise and worship songbook and had him learn two songs: "Here I Am to Worship" and "How Great Is Our God."
Last month, at his first practice with the youth choir, I typed up the lyrics to "Here I Am to Worship." They practiced it that Saturday, sang it the next day at church and got a standing ovation!
Last week, his teacher suggested that he learn another song from the book: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" by Chris Tomlin. I wasn’t familiar with this version, so I found it on YouTube and found myself listening to it over and over. I even wrote down the chorus: “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free; my God, my Savior, has ransomed me/ And Like a flood, His mercy reigns; unending love, amazing grace.”
Those lines really spoke to me because we can sometimes hold ourselves hostage with past regrets. I wish I had or hadn't done this or that. I should have done this, or I should not have done that. The list goes on. To add to that, our accusing memory won’t let it rest.
I found comfort in being reminded that my chains are gone. I’ve been set free. Not because I deserve freedom but because my God, my Savior has ransomed me. He has paid the price for my freedom. Not only that, I don't have to worry about being perfect because like a flood, his mercy reigns--it is new every day.
The hymn writer says it like this: Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me! This is not because I deserve it - it's all about His unending love and amazing grace.
Chains are like heavy weights.
Chains are like heavy weights that weigh us down. They hold us back. They make us procrastinate. They make us doubt ourselves and think that we’re not good enough and that we don’t deserve good things.
As a teen mother, you may be bound by the chains of judgment, guilt, and shame. You may be bound by the regret of having an abortion. You couldn't bear the disappointment and pain again of another pregnancy. Maybe you wish you had been a better mother and made different decisions regarding your children. Maybe you feel guilty because of a drug or alcohol addiction. Maybe you became sexually promiscuous or got in trouble with the law. Many teen mothers are unaware that the trauma they experienced as minors (under the age of 18) has led them to where they are today. Many carry burdens that are not theirs to bear.
Lay Aside Every Weight
The scripture tells us to lay aside every weight, and sin that doth so easily beset us. Hebrews 11 records a list of God’s faithful servants. Then Hebrews 12:1 tells us, "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
The Message Bible says it like this:
"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running--and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. (Hebrews 12:1).
Jesus also tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 to come to him, those of us who are burden and heavy laden and He will give us rest.
"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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).
The Message Bible says it like this:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me, work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Your Chains Are Gone
I needed this reminder that your chains are gone. You have been set free. I called my son’s piano teacher to thank her for suggesting that song. I told her how it really ministered to me.
Perhaps you are like me--you have a tendency to carry heavy weights around, and you need this reminder, too. At this very moment, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, as a follower of Jesus Christ, your chains are gone. You have been set free. Not because you--or any of us-- deserve freedom, but because your God, your Savior has ransomed you. He has paid the price for your freedom, and you don't have to worry about being perfect because like a flood, his mercy reigns--it is new every day.
The hymn writer puts it like this: Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me! This is not because you deserve it - it's all about His unending love and amazing grace.
So, receive this and get on with your life. Get moving. Finish school. Apply to college. Start exercising. Go to the 12-step meeting. Start seeing a therapist. Find a church that does not shame single, unwed mothers, and does not treat them like second-class citizens but rather extends God’s loving arms and grace. Create a three- and five-year plan for your life. Write down where you want to be. Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to "Write the vision. Make it plain . . ."
Then, resolve from this day forward to not let past regrets hold you back. Remind yourself--as often as need be--of these words: "My chains are gone, I've been set free; my God, my Savior, has ransomed me. And like a flood, His mercy reigns; unending love, amazing grace."
Always in your corner,
Dr. Chris