Sarah, looking for love in all the wrong places, was weary from the very painful consequences she was enduring due to years of wrong choices. In her heart, she knew that she had put herself in this pit . She was personally responsible for the penalties and injuries brought on by her self-centered, strong-willed, pleasure-seeking lifestyle. But she had grown to believe that no one else could be depended upon to take care of her. She had to look out for herself. So why would anyone want to help her?
Sarah had dug herself into a pit too deep to ever hope for deliverance and renewed life…
Sarah had dug herself into a pit too deep to ever hope for deliverance and renewed life…or so she thought. But once she was finally still and without strength to keep fighting her way out, she came to realize that the Lord whom she had felt so distant from had brought her to this point. In fact, He, the One she’d always longed for but alluded so diligently most of her life, had allowed her to get to the bottom of this deep pit so that she would have only one way to look for Him…up. So Sarah looked up and saw His face looking down at her, adoring her, His hand reaching out to her, His tender voice calling out her name.
“Sarah. My precious, Sarah. I hear your cries. I see your struggles. I know the way out. I AM the way out. Let me help you. Let me take care of you.” How could she resist His protection? How could she resist the comfort and safety of His arms? How could she resist His strong, confident hand desiring to lead her to life...a truly blessed life. And His voice! His tender, adoring voice !
“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord. How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust” Psalm 40:1-4.
So Sarah began seeking Him and reaching for Him, following Him with all of her heart. She cautiously trusted Him to lift her out of her cold and lonely pit. She was determined not to go back there, to the prison of despair, defeat and self-indulgence. So she immersed herself in His love, His truth, His protection. She had her eyes fixed on Him, and held tightly to His hand.
She discovered that, unlike other men, He, the One who seems to cherish her, has remained faithful to her. Not only faithful, but He has surprised her with His constant love and kindness! He has provided her with all that she needs to live a joyful, peaceful life…and abundantly more !
He has provided her with all that she needs to live a joyful, peaceful life…
There was a time not long ago when Sarah didn’t believe that this kind of life and love would ever be possible for her. But He, the One who adores her, lavishes her continually with gifts. She is daily surprised by His love. And daily she grows to trust Him a little bit more.
" Look! Wonder! Be surprised! I am doing something in your midst that you would not believe if you were told!” Habakkuk 1:1
Does this sound too good to be true? Does it sound like a fairy tale? It is not. It is a true story. This is my story. This is a tale about a lifelong search for happiness and a place to belong. A place to be loved. A place to be adored. And this is about finding the strong arms of safety for which I have longed all these many years.
I have had to get to the end of my own self-seeking ways. I have had to (and must continue to) be so weary and leery of my own pride, will and determination that I could do nothing but look up…into the loving, adoring eyes of the Lover of my soul. And truly, He is proving Himself to be all that I have ever hoped and longed for in a Companion and Protector and Lover. What a welcome surprise!
“As a bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you” Isaiah 62:5.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17
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Redeeming Love
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Sold into prostitution in childhood, Angel is a bitter young woman who trusts no man. But when God tells Michael Hosea to marry her, she learns to love and hope---until fear overwhelms her and she returns to her former life. Can she be redeemed? A skillful retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea, set amid the California gold rush. Includes Bible study.
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