Redemption

Jeremiah 29:10-12 (The Message)
This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.

This verse speaks to me. I am going through a seperation - with plans for divorce. I know God is with me. While I am in this season of my life I am reassured God has a plan. He knows my future and He will show up in due time. I want God's healing to take place in my life now - in the midst so I am ready to accept His plans for my life.

Focusing on my healing made me think about marriages I have seen (in life, in books or movies) where redemption has occurred and their marriage had not moved forward. The hurt or actions during the time of separation(divorce) became the problems in their redeemed marriage and prevented the couple from moving forward.

A little boy was ill. Doctors where concerned he had cancer. His white blood cell count was high, he had a persisant cough, lithergic, fever and low hemoglobin. Both parents where devasated. One blaming the other for what was happening. "If you only listened to me, this would not be happening." The results to exams came back, they learned their child did not have cancer. He suffered from a virus which was treatable with high dose antibiotics and he needed a blood transfusion. Instead of the parents rejoicing, they bickered still. They didn't focus attention to the miracle. They focused on the past, "If we had come when I wanted to he wouldn't need a transfusion." They also focused on the possible damage to the liver which was reversible.

I have seen marriages do the same thing. Yes there are effects when a couple is facing a divorce. Yes, one may do whatever they can to hurt the other. Yes, it will be devasating. Yes, there may be damage. BUT (I don't like to use this word) the marriage has been redeemed. It's a miracle! It's an opportunity for the marriage to go places it has never gone.

The time of seperation can be used as a time of enlightenment. As a time to learn and grow. Should the marriage not work, at least the work was done to be free for the next relationship. How many people have moved on to another relationship or marriage with the baggage of their previous marriage? Quick fixes are quick fixes. Taking time to heal brings freedom.

If the marriage works, make that time a positive time and move on. We choose how experiences effect our future. We choose how we see it. And God can show the meaning of it later - which was not to harm us.

What was said or done can not be taken back. Whatever the hurts, God is a healer. Deal with the hurts and pains which can be dealt with during the seperation. Let the hurts and experiences be a blessing because there is a testimony. There is an ability to reach and help others who will experience this, without this experience it would not have been possible.

There is a saying, No pain - no gain. All I have gone through in my life is not my crutch, I am not a victim. What I have experienced is my ministry. It's a place I can go with people. I can say I've been through this, I know how this feels - I am here for you.

I believe emotions are healthy. Cry, get angry, scream, weep, moan, - whatever a person needs to do. I am for the emotional roller coaster. Just don't stay on it. The roller coaster has it's purpose, it's season. When it's over be ready to move on, forward to the next.

And when God works His miracle, plans for good, they will be ready to recieve it. Ready to move forward and LIVE!!