June 26th

Redeemed

Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. Isaiah 54:4-5

There's a saying that goes, If you always do what you've always done, then you'll always get what you've always got.

It makes a lot of sense doesn't it? Unfortunately, so many of us approach life the opposite of this. We go through life until we run into trouble-our children are pulling away from us, our spouse is on edge around us, we keep losing our job-but once we hit that trouble, we don't change. Why?

The devil wants to whisper in our ears, Change is too hard. Change is too high of a hurdle. That thriving marriage, family, and life are just out of reach; I might as well quit trying. He will use all the shadow puppets he can to try to convince us that change is too big a deal, out of reach, impossible, and hopeless.

We must not buy these lies. Instead, we must recognize the truth that God is with us, always and all the time. Trusting in this reality, we can start asking helpful questions: Why isn't it working? Why aren't we happy? Why are we so unfulfilled? Who has convinced us that it can't work?

The truth is that God created marriage and said it was good. God would not have said it was good if it was a death trap full of pain, suffering, wounding, and hurt. He would not have said it was good if it was doomed to fail. No circumstance is beyond His reach to redeem and save!

You have a God today who wants to work miracles on your behalf.

Well, I've never done it that way, Bob, you say. Exactly! Where has what you've done before gotten you, and how do you think you'll get somewhere different?

It's already too late, I'm kicked out of the house. So were Adam and Eve, but you know what, God went with them because He wanted to redeem them and restore them to the Garden. Our verses for today are a promise made to barren women and hopeless fathers exiled as slaves to Babylon. It is a promise made to you.

Will you receive it?

Prayer Lord God,

Please come and be God over my marriage and family! Redeem and restore everything that is lost, broken, and looking hopeless. Show me a different way than I've tried before, a way that leads to Your mercy, love, and redemption.

Amen