Have you ever had that thought? Like, I know God loves me and wants good things for me, but today, I might have messed up just a bit too much this time for His redemption to truly work on me...
There have been a few times in my life where if I even had an inkling that losing God's redemptive plan for me was possible, I would have gone and lost it. I'm telling you, when people say choose the path less traveled, I up and choose the danger, do not enter, path nine times out of ten.
Being bull-headed and independent is in my nature. My first word was no and by the time I was two, I put myself to sleep at night, but only after throwing all my stuffed animals out of my crib. I tried to boss around all my older cousins, and ended up fighting them when they wouldn't listen. I started being sick from an autoimmune disease when I was 12 or 13 so my stubbornness turned into down right crankiness because I didn't feel good and didn't know how to say what I was feeling.
All throughout high school I did well in school and played sports, participated in clubs, and in general did all the good kid things, but boy I sure pushed my limits to the farthest extent I could. I gave my life to Christ when I was a junior in high school, but it didn't change much. When I moved to Texas for college, I was going to church, but I showed up hungover a couple of times. My second semester in college is when I finally got baptized and started learning so much more about God's redemptive power.
You see, some bad experiences in high school, a lack of confidence, and disdain for my broken body led me to believe I was unworthy of love. I didn't deserve it and I sure didn't deserve to be saved by Jesus, yet God saw me through the veil of Jesus Christ. When He looked at me, He saw Jesus, not my sins.
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." Ephesians 1:7
I have made more bad decisions that have had far greater repercussions since I've known God, than I ever did as a kid. Yet, God knew from the creation of earth that I was going to be born on that summer day in 1994, and He knew all the times I would mess up, like BAD mess up! Yet he has chosen for me, and for you, to look at us through the tender eyes of a Father, willing to discipline, but never forsaking His love for us. Through the riches of His grace, God loves us even so.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
So my question for you friend, is how do you view redemption? Do you see it as some big thing meant for the world? Or do you see it as something meant specifically for you?
Friend, there is SO much freedom in redemption! Not freedom to go sin on purpose and live a lush, extravagant, excessive life, but freedom to live boldly, love freely, and passionately go after our dreams so that in the pursuit of those dreams we can honor God!
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Please know, I am praying for each person who reads this. Praying for you specifically, that you would trust and believe in the plans God has for you! Plans to redeem your mistakes, to heal you, to use your story for His kingdom. You can never have done too much or be too far from the Creator of the Universe! He is right beside you waiting for you to call to Him.
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”
Isaiah 44:22 NIV
If you are struggling to believe in His redemption, message me, text me, call me. Let's pray together! He is for you!
Together, let's live our lives boldly from a place of being secure in God's redemption.
As always I am here. Please let me know how I can be praying for you.
xo,
Sara
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