We Will See It Redeemed
I have some really great memories from my childhood, but for some reason, looking back I would have feelings of rejection or humiliation. I have a wonderful family whom I adore, and I would consider us to be very close, but at family gatherings I would often find myself feeling like an outsider, insignificant and withdrawn.
For whatever reason I had never prayed about this before, so I began to ask God to redeem my perspective in hopes of shifting my thinking so I would no longer go to back places of pain, but instead enjoy the gift of family the Lord has given me.
One of the cool things about God is that He not only hears us, but He wants to do exceedingly above what we ask for. I never could have guessed how this would all play out, but let’s just say my 40th birthday was one for the books!
My amazing husband, amid covid, gave me a surprise progressive birthday that lasted 24 hours! That’s right 24 hours. I was taken to a location where a few of my favorite people would be to spend some quality time together and then I would be given a clue to take me to my next destination.
It started with a dinner with my sisters and some of my closest friends. At dinner they gave me a pair of DIAMOND earrings! What?! Who does that? As they gave them to me the Lord declared to me, “You are valuable.” (Matthew 10:31)
Then my sister began to share how I had touched her life on many different occasions, forgiven things we had never discussed, and strengthened her faith through my walk with the Lord. In that moment the Lord declared to me, “You will not be humiliated nor remember the shame of your youth.” (Isaiah 54:4)
My next clue read, “You will spend an hour with someone very special to you.” As I drove up to the house my dad was standing there with his tennis shoes on ready for a brisk walk. The Lord declared to me, “You are your father’s delight.” (Psalm 147:11)
On and on it went with so many things I hold dear to my heart and as we drove up for the finale I began to cry. My parents, sisters, brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephew and adopted family lined the driveway with sparklers as we drove in. The Lord declared over me, “You are celebrated.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
As if the day hadn’t been enough, I began to open the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received. Framed in silver trim and written in the shape of a heart “40 things we love about you.” Each member of my tribe had written the way they see me… kind, loyal, graceful, solution giver, generous, encourager, playful, passionate, truth giver, cheerleader to others, just to name a few. As I read these, I realized God wasn’t interested in erasing my past, He wanted to redeem it. He wanted to show me who I am today and how He’s redeemed me, my relationships, and my story for His glory.
To redeem means to gain back. Today I want to encourage you to gain back territory the enemy has stolen from you. You are not who you were, what happened doesn’t have to be a constant happening in your life and God thinks you are worth it! Pray prayers you’ve never prayed before and allow your mind and heart to be transformed. Expect God to do the unexpected!
We will see it redeemed!
~ Pastor Celeste Gonzales