Redeemed

I am not big on New Year’s Resolutions.  I have nothing against you if you are into it, in fact I used to get really into setting resolutions.  But I never kept them all year… ever… and that became depressing, so I quit. 

 

For the past few years I have embraced a different concept.  I name each year.  It is based on the concept of “One Word” , but I am too wordy to keep it at a mete word most years.   I loved Ann Voskamp's perspective as well, "but as we name our newborn, so we name our new year, christen it so it knows who it is to us. Named, we now have a destination, a way across the next twelve months."

 

We are very close to the start of 2018, and the year is BEGGING me to settle on a name.  So I have!

REDEEMED

 

Isaiah 43 is such a powerful chapter of scripture and has shaped this name.   

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

 

I have been noticing how often I try to avoid the trials or hard parts of life.  I have methods for dealing with the unpleasant that are CRAZY UNHEALTHY…. I overeat, or I overspend, or I overindulge in other activities.  I don’t want to feel the pain and I use these methods to medicate myself.  I am sure I am not alone, I mean, Weight Watchers has built its empire out of people like me!  As have credit card companies.

 

But not me, not anymore.  I am going to take the time and GO THROUGH the hard things.  I am going to feel the feelings, face the criticism and deal with the elephant in the room I have been ignoring.  Because HE IS WITH ME… Isaiah tells me my God has redeemed me and will go with me through these deep waters, these rivers and these fires.  I don’t need to fear them.

 

 

I can quit numbing the feelings, because I am not feeling them alone.  I can quit avoiding the hard things because He will be by my side when I face the hard things.  And not just that, he will REDEEM them, just as he has already redeemed me. 

 

Further in Isaiah 43:

This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,
 who drew out the chariots and horses,
    the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

 The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
     the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise.

 

He tells me to forget the past, all that hurt and baggage.  He tells me he is doing something new.  After he makes the way, He makes it new.  It is redeemed.

 

Here is how Wester’s dictonary defines Redeem:

1           a : to buy back : repurchase

 b : to get or win back

 2 : to free from what distresses or harms: such as

            a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom

            b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental

            c : to release from blame or debt : clear

            d : to free from the consequences of sin

 3 : to change for the better : reform

 4 : repair, restore

 5         a : to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby

            b (1) : to remove the obligation of by payment ·the U.S. Treasury redeems savings bonds on demand

            (2) : to exchange for something of value ·redeem trading stamps

                        c : to make good : fulfill

6 a : to atone for : expiate ·redeem an error

                        b (1) : to offset the bad effect of 

(2) : to make worthwhile : retrieve

 

Oh a hundred times YES!  I want to face the hard things head on this year knowing that He will redeem it on the other side.  And He will redeem me.  He will free me from the things that distress me.  He will help me overcome the things that are detrimental to me.  He will change it for the better.  He will restore and repair.  He will atone for the hard things.  HE WILL MAKE IT WORTHWHILE…

…. But He can only do that if I allow myself to go through it first.  So this year I will feel and hurt and admit and confront and FACE IT ALL… because on the other side He redeems it and makes it new. 

 

HALLELUJAH!

 

If you are curious…. Here is the history of my year naming:

2018: Redeemed

2017: Choose Beauty

2016: Be Still
2015: Expect Miracles
2014: Woman of Valor
2013: I Am Enough