Once Upon a Time: Redeeming Stories of Rescue
It’s high time we celebrated stories of rescue and redemption.
Stories of when loss turned to gain; when darkness turned to light; when true hope won over hopeless, and when over-comers sung a victory song.
In the past, my story stayed secret in a young girl’s heart, not wanting to share it. But it’s when we share our stories that they help others, have the ability to heal us, and make us brave souls armed with courage.
A release my soul has always needed. Perhaps, you too.
Still, I used to struggle telling the world Once upon a time lived a girl. So I avoided recounting my story—reminiscent of my rough start to life.
My untidy announcement to the world fell short of a glorious celebration. Baby twin girls made their grand entrance early.
But the early bird doesn’t always get the worm. About to give birth, my mother took a taxi to the hospital alone, not knowing the whereabouts of her husband, my dad.
Two babies shocked everyone including the doctor. For several days my father remained unaware he had twins—before he saw me and held me.
All 3 pounds and 9 ounces of me laid in a neonatal incubator. Innocence wrapped in a hospital blanket with no clue of the other brokenness lurking nearby.
Transformation Stories
Empty places waited for me as if they considered themselves my friends. Unwelcome companions hoping to walk alongside me through life.
While monitors kept tabs on my vitals, someone else behind the scenes kept watch over my heart. The heavenly Father saw me, knew me, and held me close—aware of everything about me.
Unbeknownst to me, God continued to stay near throughout my childhood. He desired to become my welcomed companion. And to one day rescue and transform me from hurt to hope, from lack to bounty, from lost to found, and from void to occupied.
God desired to rescue and transform me from hurt to hope, from lack to bounty, from lost to found, and from void to occupied. #Stories #redemption Click To TweetGenuine transformations occur when we lay down the lie it’s okay to go without what matters most.
I realized few people, if any, had a perfect start to life. Like the saying, “It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.” — Ella Fitzgerald
New Beginnings
That’s never more true than with less-than-perfect starts in life. Those we almost never celebrated. What follows after our beginning, how we process it, and where we go next, helps us thrive today.
But attempts to restart our own life and recover from lack can lead us down the wrong paths. The direction we head is important to the outcome.
We must be willing to make any necessary U-turns to land somewhere solid—the places God leads us as He positions us for a fresh start.
My new start came when I allowed my heavenly Father to rescue me and fill in every gap someone or something failed to fill.
Celebrating Stories
So now I celebrate and embrace my story.
Because the Lord rescued, redeemed, and gave new life to a young girl. Then, He began to rewrite her story. And I’m ready to tell the world.
Friend, if you experienced a less-than-desirable beginning in life or you endured empty places in childhood or adulthood, I hope you know Jesus as Rescuer and have a redemption story.
If you experienced a less-than-desirable beginning in life or you endured empty places in childhood or adulthood, I hope you know Jesus as Rescuer and have a redemption story. #Stories #redemption Click To TweetAnd I hope you celebrate your story of rescue and redemption with a victory song or dance—whatever matches your style.
Since no merriment ever sparkled without gifts, presents await us. Some of us searched for these gifts our entire life.
God waited for us to realize how much He wanted to gift them to us, and how they really already belonged to us from day one.
Oh how the Lord beckons us to unwrap…
The Gift of Rescue
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Colossians 1:13 (NIV)
Jesus “gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 1:4 (ESV)
The Gift of Redemption
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” Galatians 3:13 (ESV)
The Gift of New life
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (ESV)
Cue the music and let the party begin.
Do you share and celebrate your story of rescue and redemption? Tell us in the comments.
Discover more about stories and watch my storyline video.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Candidly Christian and Faith On Fire.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
This post overflows with both vulnerability and hope.
Thank you!
Ava, I like to think most stories of redemption do. Appreciate you commenting.
What a beautiful story of redemption. I know it can be hard to share but this will help others in so many ways. I am glad God continued to pursue you. You are a blessing to many. 💕
Thank you for your kindness, Yvonne. Thankful, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Colossians 1:13 (NIV)
Oh yes, I see God still redeeming my story through His grace and love. And it is important to give hope to our world through the sharing of stories. Thank you for sharing yours, Karen!
Lynn, God’s in the redeeming business and His grace and love are written on every page of our story.
Karen, I was so utterly lost until Jesus found me and convinced me, almost instantly, that He was the missing piece in my life that I’d been searching for. I can’t thank Him enough for the love and grace He has shown me, and undeserving servant.
Blessings!
So beautifully said, Martha! Most of us never even knew how lost we really were or how much we needed a Rescuer. God bless, dear friend.
I am beyond thankful that God rescued me from my sins of a wild youthful life. He placed mentors in my life that encouraged me to seek Him. God had a plan for me all along and I am thankful for His plan.
Melissa, I love thinking about this, “God had a plan for me all along….”
How encouraging this article is to others who had a rough start in life or are still walking in deep waters and many problems. Thanks for writing it.
Thanks, June. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
What a beautiful recounting of your earliest moments of life outside the womb, onward to the love and grace God has shown you by watching over you, superintending all your days, and then bringing you to salvation. What a blessing it is to know that the Lord planned for us, each and every one, that he was never surprised by us, that he has watched over us, and that he directs and oversees our futures. He will hold us safely in his care. He will never lose us, nor forsake us, and he will see us safely through to the other side to be with him forever and ever. Thanks be to God!
Melinda, I like how you said God was superintending all my days. It’s a powerful thought of how hope was always coming and God knew! So I plan to keep celebrating stories of when loss turned to gain; when darkness turned to light; when true hope won over hopeless, and when over-comers sung a victory song.
Karen, thank you for sharing your story of redemption. I had a rough start to life myself. Fatherless in my beginning, but my ending is loved by The Father. I took a few wrong turns before accepting Jesus, therefore, there was much brokenness and sin to be forgiven. Oh but Jesus! He’s so faithful to forgive and help us start a new and beautiful life!
Marcie, thanks for sharing your story. “Fatherless in my beginning, but my ending is loved by The Father.” Beautiful! And the ending is what counts the most.
Looking back is easier now; God has removed all the pain from the memories. Sadness remains, but not pain, shame, and regret. Thank you for reminding me that it’s important to remember what we once were so we can better appreciate what God has done in our lives. God’s blessings gentle lady.
J.D., I know you had a rough beginning to life and even throughout much of your childhood. So sad. Yet, we all need a rescue and a good, good Father who loved us from day one.
Oh, my goodness! Karen — what an inspiring, vulnerable and uplifting story. I love that Ella Fitzgerald quote: “It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.” You definitely live that quote!
Thank you, Jessica. I love that quote too. I pray we are be willing to make any necessary U-turns to land somewhere solid—the places God leads us as He positions us for a fresh start.
Oh Karen, my heart was so moved by this beautiful reminder that all of our stories are from ashes to beauty, in the hands of a beautiful God. Thank you for reminding us that the Christian life is not one of perfection, but one of redemption. From lost to found. And not just once, but over and over again. For our loving Father God, is always reaching for us, drawing us near, carving us into the image of His most beautiful Son and Messiah, by His Word and His Spirit at work within. Help us remember, oh God! All you have done to redeem us! God bless you, Karen. Such an inspiring post!
Melissa, so true that we are not a picture of perfection but a beautiful image of redemption. Imperfectly perfect in the hands of the Almighty. Grateful, the Lord continues to carve me into the image of Christ Jesus. Christ in us is the only hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. Blessings dear Melissa!
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I am so thankful Jesus drew me to Himself and changed the course of my life. I hate to think where I’d be without Him.
You and me both, Barbara. I can’t even begin to fathom a life without knowing the redeeming power of Jesus’ blood and the unconditional, unending love of the heavenly Father.
Karen, your blog post is a great one. you are right we need to be brave enough to share our stories of how God has redeemed our lives in those places that we might still guard. How else can others come to know God and His son, Jesus, unless we share what He has done for us?
I am learning how to be more open and share stories of faith from my own life.
That’s wonderful, Diane. Keep sharing stories of faith, those are the ones that speak to people in the middle of whatever they are going through and helps them relate.
These stories of redemption and rescue always grab me and pull me in! Thanks for sharing this piece of your story, Karen. We all can grow by seeing how God has been faithful in the lives of each other.
Agree, Lisa, seeing God’s faithfulness in our lives and the lives of others grows our faith.
Amen and Sing Glory Glory Hallelujah and Maranatha!! Our ONE TRUE GOD the HEAVENLY FATHER REIGNS and HIS SON JESUS-YESHUA CHRIST-MESSIAH SHINES!!
Love Always and Shalom, YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann
Oh, yes, He reigns above all and in the heart of His children!
With so many gifts from our Father, why would we ever feel discontent or in need, Karen? But that’s exactly what I feel an awful lot of the time! Thank you for this reminder and for sharing your very vulnerable and tender story of a messy start that God has now turned into a message of hope and healing! Pinning and tweeting, my friend!
Beth, we all relate to feeling discontent or in need in this present world where there’s suffering and plenty of substitutes out there to try to numb our own pain and emptiness. So thankful the Lord turns messy stories in “messages of hope and healing.” God bless!
I’m so thankful we serve a God who loves us so much He sacrificed his son for us. And I’m also thankful He’s writing my story, allowing those detours and U-Turns to help me become more like Him. Thank you for a lovely post!
Lisa, no matter how uncomfortable the detours and U-turns seem at the time, they really do make us more into His image. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Without doubt, I am a rescue!
Yes, Susan. I used to think I didn’t have a powerful (enough) testimony of rescue. When I heard the stories of rescue with those in addiction, terrible abuse, and the unthinkable, I surmised God’s rescue in these stories of so much more power and grace and His love. Yet, the Lord finally showed me how we were all spiritual misfits in need of a Savior and Rescuer to save us from sin, ourselves, other gods and more!
Karen, I love your redemption story. And I love that you are intentional about celebrating it. Our God is so amazing, and His gifts are spirit-filling. I’m also thankful God pens each page of my story. There’s comfort in knowing the Author!
Thank you, Jeanne. I’m also thankful for how the Lord penned my story of rescue and what follows after. His grace and mercy are seen on every page.