SCRIPTURE: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
THOUGHT: While I’m on the subject of story-telling (see yesterday’s devo), it probably won’t surprise you that I’ve explored more than once why God takes us in less direct paths – or why, when we choose less direct and more painful paths, he has the desire to redeem the stories we are telling. Sometimes, as the redemption comes, he asks us go back to those painful places and share with others how God has delivered and changed us. He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we’ve received.
If you’re reading today, and you’ve been hurt by abuse or trauma, take heart. There is one who rescues, and he doesn’t stop there. Safety is not the holy grail. Once you are rescued, God wants to mend you, rebuild you, and send you to help rescue others. There is sacred purpose in your healing. That is the nature of redemption.
You think that it’s over, you think there’s no hope
Drag through another day feeling alone
But deep in the struggle, deep in the pain
His love for you blazes and you’ll rise again, to comeBack from the rubble with stories to tell
Forged on the road between heaven and hell
Raised from the ashes of all that has failed
Back from the rubble with stories to tellMercy breaks through in the strangest of ways
His love like a fire, relentless and brave
And He won’t give up, ‘til we give into Him
To His breaking and shaping and sending again….We go back to the rubble with stories to tell
Amy & Fred Clemens “STORIES TO TELL” 6/21/11
Forged on the road between heaven and hell
Raised from the ashes of all that has failed
We go back to the rubble with stories to tell
PRAYER: Thank you for rescuing, God, but not stopping after the rescue. You have plans for us that we could not believe if you told us, and are committed to finishing this good work you’ve begun. Use our lives and stories of rescue and redemption for your purposes.
Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.
There are archives by topic below – now more than 1000 of these daily meditations to browse.
ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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