Redeeming Love

Isn’t it strange that when trauma hits us there are irrelevant parts of our surroundings that are seared into our memories? I remember where I was standing, what I was wearing, and that the sun was shining outside, yet it was a dark day in my home. I was standing right outside my bedroom on a Wednesday. It was one o’clock in the afternoon and I hadn’t even changed out of my bed clothes. I had made all the calls, I had asked all the questions of all the people I knew, and still felt like I was getting nowhere. Just days before trauma had raised its ugly head and our family's world was left spinning out of control (our control). At that moment, I literally fell to the ground on my knees in complete and utter desperation. I cried out loud, “Lord, had I known (the pain) I would have never said yes (to foster/adoption).” The moment my knees hit the ground and the words left my lips a gentle sentiment echoed equally as loudly in my heart, “And yet that’s what I did for you.” In that instant I understood on a whole new level the power of redeeming love. 

I know most of us pride ourselves in our strength and endurance. If you foster or have adopted, you know it’s not a sprint - it’s all about endurance. It’s about agility and being able to pivot and adjust on a moment's notice. It’s so easy to have a false sense of security in our own understanding of how trauma plays itself out in the lives of others, and even ourselves. 

But friends, the sooner we break ourselves from this false idea that we can’t be weak, that we can’t show our brokenness and imperfections - then the work can truly begin. That is, the redeeming work of the Lord. Take heart, broken things aren’t final things. 

Our human love could never have the power to redeem anyone or any situation. But as we step into other people’s redemption stories - we have the opportunity, privilege, and responsibility to point them to a Heavenly Father whose love is continually in the work of redeeming broken things.

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (and daughters).