“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story - those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.” Psalm 107:2
The beautiful story of redemption is interwoven all throughout the Bible. So, what exactly does it mean to be redeemed? To redeem means to gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment. In the simplest terms, it means to buy back. And, what exactly do we need to be bought back from? Let’s go back to the garden. When Adam and Eve were created, they walked with God (take a moment to soak that in). God told Adam that they could eat from any tree in the garden except one, because if they did, they would “surely die”. This would not be just physical death but also spiritual death. In that one moment of rebellion against God, Adam and Eve were separated from Him and humans became enslaved to the power of sin. But, thankfully, God had a plan to redeem all of humanity. Throughout the Old Testament, God promised to rescue and redeem His people. He repeated this story of redemption so that they would fully grasp what it meant to be redeemed. We first read of this promise in Exodus, when God tells the Israelites, who were enslaved in Egypt, that He will bring them out from their oppression, free them from their slavery, and redeem them with His outstretched arm and mighty acts of judgment.
Now we ask, who are the redeemed? Psalm 107 describes the stories of four different groups of people. The wanderer (4-9). Lost and searching for a place to settle. Hungry and thirsty, their souls worn out and exhausted. The guilty prisoner (10-16). Sitting alone in darkness, bound in chains of misery, for rebelling against the word of God and rejecting His instructions. Humbled with hard labor, no rest and no liberty, stumbling with no one to rescue them. The sinner, willfully rebelling (17-22). Suffering affliction, their bodies feeling the effects of their sin because of their rebellious ways. In such misery that they could not eat and were wanting to die. The storm tossed and fearful (23-32). Living life, going about their daily business. When circumstances arise and things go differently than expected, they are shaken, becoming fearful and helpless. They are staggering around, unsure of what to do, and at their wits end because all their knowledge was useless.
Can anyone else relate?! These stories are yours and mine! And, I am so thankful that God sent His son Jesus to redeem everyone of us. The blood of Jesus is the payment for our sin that God used to redeem us. He wants us to live in freedom from our rebellious ways and to restore the relationship we once had with Him. Although we can all relate to the wanderer, the guilty, the sinner, and the fearful, we do not all live in freedom from those situations. It is not until we cry out to the Lord in our distress that we receive the benefits of His redemption. It is when we cry out to Him that He will give us a place to settle and satisfy our soul. It is when we cry out to Him that He will bring us out of darkness and break our chains. It is when we cry out to Him that He will heal and rescue us from the grave. It is when we cry out to Him that He will calm the storm and guide us.
One last question, why should the redeemed tell their story? This is answered for us in the first verse of Psalm 107, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever”. I am going to pause here for a minute.
I have rewritten this blog several times and each time this has been my last reason to share our stories. I have focused on so many other reasons while neglecting to focus on this one truth. As I write this, I am overwhelmed and humbled by His love. He has so patiently redirected me in this process so that I could see I had it all backwards. I just love how God does that! We do not need to become ungrateful for what God has done for you and me. Let us always remember to “give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind”.
Why else should we share our stories? Our stories give us common ground and unite us with believers and non-believers. When we share our brokenness with honesty and vulnerability, we realize we can relate to that person we thought we had nothing in common with. Sharing our stories gives us the opportunity to comfort and be comforted, to encourage and receive encouragement, and to love better and be better loved. Our story of redemption also gives us the opportunity to share the Good News. When people see what our lives used to be and how we have been redeemed, they are witness to what it looks like to live in freedom from sin. They are seeing first hand the power of Jesus and we can let them know that freedom is also available to them.
At Living Truth Collective, we are firm believers in the power of sharing {Y}OUR Story. It was in our second time meeting together that Brittany, Kari, and I shared our stories with each other. We laid it all out there, we were vulnerable and real. It was hard and it was emotional, but it was so worth it. We now know one another's darkest moments and hardest struggles. We can go to one another when issues arise and we have someone to speak God’s Truth and light into our lives and our circumstances. Our stories, no matter how messy, are a testament to who God is and what He has done for us. So we want to encourage you, whenever the opportunity arises, share your story. Sometimes it may be in a small group setting with other believers or a larger group such as Celebrate Recovery. Sometimes, you may feel a nudge from the Holy Spirit to share part of your story with someone you’ve recently gotten to know. Act on it! You have the opportunity to show them the redemption story of Jesus. And don’t forget to thank God for what He has done. After all, you owe your life to Him.
-Aimey