Rescued Through Redemption

"But you love me anyway, it’s like nothing in life that I’ve ever known.”

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Growing up I always felt loved. I grew up in a large family, with four siblings a mother and father who made family time a priority, many pets, food on the table, and yet I always felt like something was missing. Now, I know what you are thinking, how can someone who seemingly had such a “perfect” childhood feel so empty?

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Let me ask you…have you ever felt guilty, truly guilty? Have you ever done something you regret? Trust me when I say, you aren’t alone. Even though I grew up in that “perfect” family, when I was younger, I used to lie about the smallest things, and my mother would always tell me “I am more hurt by your lies than you are.” I didn’t understand that, how something I could do could hurt others more than it hurt me. That someone could have such love in their heart that they only wanted the best for me, and that there was a reason for my emptiness.

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Because I was empty I began searching and found: “For God so loved the world”…that he gave his one and only son…to die a horrible death…for me? To save me? From my regrets and my guilt and my shame? That fact changed my life forever. I found the book of Psalms, which over and over again talks about God’s unfailing love. His always constant love, his unconditional love. That nothing I could ever do could separate me from the love of God. The love that was so strong that he sent his son to die for me. I spoke earlier about my parent’s love, how I learned at an early age what love looked like, but try as they might the love of my earthly parent’s can never compare to the love of my heavenly father.

You might be wondering, well Holly, now that you have found Jesus, you must consider yourself “filled-up” and "perfect". HA! While I would say I am full to the brim with the love of Christ, I am far from perfect.

 

In a song by the Sidewalk Prophets they say:

“I am the thorn in your crown

I am the sweat from Your brow

I am the nail in Your wrist"

 

Everyday I need to be reminded…I am a sinner saved by grace. What does that mean? It means that everyday I struggle with that same sin from when I was a child, and new ones too! That only by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was I made perfect in God’s sight. That his love now extends to me forever because…”He loves me anyway…”