"Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt."
Hosea 2:14-15, NIV
Those of you that know me, know that reading is not exactly my favorite hobby but the idea of a warm fire, hot coffee and a good book was even too great for me to resist during this cold, rainy winter. I must admit that I actually have a list of new books that I would like to read but yet again I could not resist the temptation to pick up Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers for what I believe is probably the 5th or 6th time. There is just something about a love story evolving a handsome, western farmer that gets me every time. Needless to say I am a fan even if it is almost 500 pages. If you are like me anything over 200 pages is pushing it, oh who am I kidding 100 pages is probably more accurate.
Anyways...
Redeeming Love is a fictional love story based on a retelling of the book of Hosea in the Bible. Without compromising the integrity of the story in case you plan to read it yourself, the novel is about a man who continually displays his love for a young woman despite betrayal, pain and rejection much like Christ's continual pursuit of His children.I never cease to be amazed at how something new jumps out at me every single time I read this novel and I think it must have something to do with perspective.
A few weeks ago Beth Moore posted a video titled "The 12th Month that Redeems a Whole Year" (Please check out her video A 12th Month That Redeems a Year. She is fantastic and I just love the way that God speaks through her. My description just does not do it justice!). In the video she talks about how 2013 may have been a challenging year, a year that we wish to forget but she points out Biblical examples where 12th month was a time of reversal. Historically it is a time where things intended to destroy were turned around and used ultimately for God's glory. She presented a challenge asking that we might be so bold as to ask the Lord to do an outstanding work in December that would redeem the entire year despite the hardships and challenges that have been faced.
A recent theme in my personal study in the word has revolved around the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20:"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives". As I was reading Redeeming Love last night, I could not help but feel this verse come to life as I kept noticing the parallels between the main character and the Lord in regards the way He displayed the depth of His love for me this year.
2013 at a glance was a trying year personally in regards to my faith. The combination of several heartbreaking events for both myself and a few of my close friends left me questioning God and His faithfulness. I found myself asking, "If God is good, why do bad things happen to good people?" , "Is God still sovereign when I am continually disappointed that things don't go my way?", "What is the point in holding out hope?". My frustration and doubt led me to a place where I felt numb. I was in survival mode, were I felt it was best not to hope at all because hope just led to disappointment. But somewhere in the wilderness God's sweet voice tenderly drew me back to His word (Hosea 2:14-15). In the midst of my doubt God spoke truth to my heart through the testimonies of cherished friends and devout leaders of the faith and I can now answer all of those questions with a resounding "YES". God is faithful, God is just and God is sovereign in all things and He is working everything together for our good even if it isn't according to MY plan.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose(Romans 8:28) ."
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
After listening to Beth Moore's devotion I began praying that God would redeem my 2013 in this December month and last night I realized that He already had, even though it was not the redemption I had imagined. It was much greater! Christ poured out His love for me in 2013 and He pursued His wayward child and mercifully drew me back to His side. He poured His Grace out over me and brought Genesis 50:20 to life as He took a year that was intended for my harm and re-purposed it into good through growth, strength and maturity of my faith.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
2013 may have been a tough year for me spiritually but God prevailed victorious and the battle ended well!
May He receive all the glory and all the praise!
-Emily
