The freedom of childhood is wonderful—few worries and light responsibilities. But as life matures, so does the weight we carry. Our backpacks slowly fill with concerns, and anxiety begins to grow. Some of this is natural, but much of it becomes unnecessary baggage. The question is this: how do we keep a healthy mind as life accumulates?
Nein Cheng faced this question under unimaginable pressure. Living in Shanghai during Mao’s Red Purge, she was imprisoned for being labeled an enemy of the state. Isolated and interrogated, the government sought not just to confine her body but to reshape her thinking. In her cell, she found an unexpected anchor—a spider spinning its web. Watching its symmetry and patience became her refuge, helping her guard her mind when everything else was being stripped away.
Life has a way of doing the same to us. Gone are carefree days; now thousands of thoughts compete for our attention, and many shape our future. Joseph’s life reminds us that adversity does not have to corrupt our thinking. Betrayed, sold, imprisoned—yet he did not become bitter. Somehow, his mind stayed anchored to God.
Trouble and contrary winds will follow us all. Without something steady to focus on—like Nein Cheng’s spider web, or our faith—those winds will shape our thoughts. Scripture tells us adversity is not meant to make us bitter, but to deepen us. Paul writes, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10), and urges us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2).
Many people live with tragic circumstances and damaged inner lives. Some never learned how to guard their thoughts; others rejected what they were taught and now struggle to rebuild. Losing freedom is painful—but losing control of one’s thoughts is devastating.
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, observed that even in a concentration camp, one freedom remains: the choice of attitude. Meaning is found not by escaping suffering, but by choosing how we respond to it.
Life becomes meaningless without purpose. Nein Cheng found meaning and survived. Joseph endured and became a leader. May we find our meaning in Jesus Christ, guard our minds, and become examples to others.
I need not live in a maze.
SOAP Scripture: Romans 12:1-2
S: (scripture)
Read the above passage and underline, highlight, or write down passages that stand out to you. Maybe re-read it a few times if that’s helpful.
O: (observation)
Write down things you observe about the passage. Maybe it’s a word that stood out to you, something the passage made you think about, or a question that you have.
A: (application)
Write down some ways that the passage applies to your life. Make it personal.
P: (prayer)
Take a moment and pray. Ask God to make the passage practical to your everyday life.
