by Debbie Wicker BCC
We are beginning a brand-new series on learning how to live well in a difficult and evil world. Throughout this series, we will explore how the Ten Commandments provide practical wisdom for navigating life’s challenges and heartaches.
God gave us the commandments as a gift. They help us avoid many of the problems caused by human pride, selfishness, and our sinful nature. Far from being restrictive, they show us a path toward freedom, peace, and flourishing.
Freedom in Christ
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
— Galatians 5:1
The commandments help us live in the freedom Christ desires for us. They gently and lovingly teach us what to pursue and what to avoid. When we seek to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we begin to experience a freedom that transcends our circumstances.
No matter what turmoil surrounds us, we can live each day with peace and confidence because we are walking in God’s design for our lives.
Why I Love the Commandments
I love the commandments.
When I was a child, my life was filled with dysfunction, abuse, and chaos. Both of my parents likely suffered from undiagnosed mental illness. My mother struggled with severe depression and exhibited narcissistic tendencies. Additionally, my father displayed many characteristics associated with antisocial personality disorder.
My parents fought constantly until they separated when I was thirteen years old. Before I graduated from high school, our family had moved eighteen times across multiple states. There were seasons when my four siblings and I went without enough food and wore little more than worn-out hand-me-down clothing.
What does this have to do with the commandments?
Everything.
When I was nine years old, my best friend’s mother gave me a small bracelet with the Ten Commandments printed on it. I owned very little, so it quickly became one of my most treasured possessions. She also told me about Jesus, and I began praying to Him.
I did not understand much about who Jesus was at the time. What I did understand was that He loved me and wanted what was best for me.
From that day forward, I began studying the commandments and comparing them to the world around me. I was fascinated by them. They were simple enough for a child to understand, yet deep enough to spend a lifetime exploring.
My parents were unfaithful to each other, something I became aware of at a young age. At school, many of my classmates were beginning to experiment with sex, stealing, and other destructive behaviors. As I studied the commandments, I could see that they were steering me away from many of the mistakes I witnessed around me.
Although I started going to bars when I was fourteen—I looked older than I was—I never became involved with drinking, drugs, or promiscuity.
The commandments became the moral compass of my life. Now, in my sixties, I can clearly see what a tremendous blessing they have been. They helped me navigate an unstable childhood and provided a foundation that has guided me through every season of life.
Sharing What I Have Learned
After actively studying the commandments for nearly sixty years, I feel compelled to share what I have learned.
My hope is that others will discover the wisdom, protection, and blessings found in God’s commands.
Recently, I met with a woman who was divorced from the father of her adult children. She deeply resented her ex-husband and believed he was intentionally trying to turn their children against her. Her children had stopped communicating with her and had made accusations that she believed were completely untrue.
During our conversation, I told her about a man who allowed his seventeen-year-old son to live alone and associate with known drug dealers. The father owned a pool installation business and employed some of these individuals, allowing them to live and work alongside his son. Eventually, the young man died from an opioid overdose in the house.
Immediately, the woman responded, “My ex-husband would do something like that.”
I stopped her and asked, “Do you realize that you’re violating the Ninth Commandment?”
She looked confused.
I explained that she was bearing false witness against her ex-husband. She had no evidence that he would do such a thing. By assuming the worst about him and presenting it as truth, she was harming herself.
This is something many people fail to understand about the commandments.
When we violate God’s commands—and we all do—we are not only sinning against God. We are often harming ourselves. God knows what leads to human flourishing because He created us. His commandments are practical instructions for living the life He designed us to live.
Sadly, many people see the commandments as burdens rather than blessings.
What Ten Commandments Series Will Cover
Each commandment will be examined in two separate posts.
The first post will explain the meaning of the commandment and explore what it teaches us about God’s character and our lives.
The second post will provide real-life examples demonstrating how obeying the commandment helps us thrive in a broken and dangerous world.
One of the miracles of the Ten Commandments is their enduring relevance. More than 3,500 years after God gave them to Moses and the people of Israel, they remain just as practical and life-giving as ever.
That timeless wisdom is powerful evidence of their divine origin.
As a frightened nine-year-old girl, I used these commandments to navigate a chaotic and unstable life. They helped me find direction, make wise choices, and build a life that flourished despite difficult circumstances.
I cannot wait to share their wisdom and wonder with you.
About the Author
Debbie Wicker is a Board Certified Christian Counselor who brings a thoughtful mental health perspective to the study of the Bible. With more than 15 years of counseling experience, Debbie helps individuals understand Scripture not only spiritually, but emotionally and psychologically as well.
Before entering counseling, Debbie was a partner in a Big 8 public accounting firm, where she built a successful career in management consulting. After a mid-life career change, she felt called to integrate faith and mental health — equipping others to grow spiritually while addressing real-life struggles with wisdom and compassion.
Through the-Bible.net, Debbie writes to help readers better understand God’s Word, human nature, and the transforming power of Christ.