One of the many things I love about the Bible are the numerous stories of redemption, especially the victorious comebacks from the underdogs. Our God has certainly authored some of the greatest stories that still offer us hope today.
I have experienced pain, guilt, and shame in different seasons of my life. At times I’ve allowed my mind to believed the lie that the Lord couldn’t use me or my story to bring Him glory. Most recently, becoming a single mom due to infidelity, abandonment, and divorce was extremely heartbreaking. Shame plays horrible mind games. For a time I believed the lie that my children and I were not enough for someone.
These thoughts are not true. We serve a God who is all about redemption. When we find ourselves blindsided by circumstances we don’t see coming, we can be thankful God loves an impossible situation.
One story in particular has made an impact on my seasons of grief and healing. Naomi was no stranger to loss, death and grief. She not only became a widow, but she also lost both of her sons. Naomi certainly walked through what we call the “stages of grief.” In Ruth 1:20 she returned to her homeland in Bethlehem and said, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara.” She exchanged the name “pleasant” for “bitter.” Since Naomi felt life had been hard and bitter on her, she chose to live with that perspective, literally.
Even when we believe lies that conflict with the Word of God, lies that do not align with who God says we are, God meets us in that place, even if that place is far away from Him. He goes the distance to remind us He still loves us.
The Lord is faithful, even when life and others aren’t.
We have a choice to either grow bitter or grow better.
Naomi chose bitterness in her suffering.
BUT GOD . . .
He redeemed the choices Naomi made and He gladly redeems the choices we make. This should give us hope that, no matter what we have done in the past, our story isn’t over. As long as we have breath in our lungs, God has a plan for our lives. God is always working and weaving a redemption story in our lives.
When we turn our loss, pain, and shame from an inward perspective–with prayers and petitions such as “why me, God?”–to an outward posture–such as, “Turn my mess into a message, God”– that is when we can see the beautiful tapestry come together in our lives.
Wherever you are today I want to remind you that the Lord sees you. He heard what they said about you. He saw how they treated you. He knows what betrayal feels like. Your story is not over and He will not only build you back up, but you will laugh and dance again.