In Honor of Jesus Christ – A Story of Redemption
With Easter right around the corner, so many of my fellow Christians are pondering on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But – I had another thought…
Why is it only during Easter that we place our minds on the story of Jesus Christ and how He redeemed us?
I don’t know about you, but I have PLENTY of stories that show the redemptive power of Jesus Christ on a daily basis!
I’m actually going to share a brief story of redemption that is definitely one of my favorites (but who can choose).
It all began in….
2012
I was a young, 21-year-old in struggling marriage with a 2-year-old son. And the one thing I wanted more than anything was to give my son a sibling. He deserved it.
But, try as I might, I could not get pregnant.
Month after month I saw positive ovulation tests, followed by negative pregnancy tests. And if you’ve ever struggled with infertility (or delayed fertility), you know how heart-wrenching it can be to feel like your body is fighting against you.
I went to doctors who gave me meds, which ultimately didn’t work. And after 9 months of trying, my husband (at the time) finally said “I’m done trying.” Talk about heartbreak. Ugh.
Fast Forward
Do you ever have those moments where you look back and see God’s hand in something that was so painful in the moment?
This is one of those moments for me.
What I didn’t know at the time was that my husband was actively cheating on me. And when I found that out, I was crushed. We tried to work it out but within 3 weeks’ time, I left with only mine and my son’s clothes and his toys.
This was the very first time in my life that God audibly spoke to me… but, I’ll get to that later. (When God Spoke)
2016
4 years later, and many ups and downs in between, my son and I had moved from the craziness of the big city, to a small town in Northern California. Things were looking up.
One day, on a whim, my mother invited me to her employee appreciation party where I met the most handsome man I ever saw (spoiler – it was my late husband). When she introduced us, and I watched his hand tremble as he took mine. Talk about melting heart! Sigh. And while I won’t get into the whole story right now (check back during the 31 Days of Redemption), it is one for the record books.
Now, I wish I could tell you that we met, dated, he proposed, we got married, and all that other jazz, but that’s just not what happened. Plus, our story wouldn’t be as beautiful if it was. (If you want to read more of our story, check out my About Me)
What actually happened was, we met, we dated, and an incredible 4 months later, I found out I was pregnant. Oops.
But I’ll never forget the excitement and joy we both shared when we found out that we had a little blessing on the way. And in that moment, I remember crying and thinking “GOD! You are so good!”
Here I was, nearly 5 years later still heart-broken about my empty arms that longed for another baby. Not that my son wasn’t enough, he definitely was (and still is). But the desires of our hearts are many. And isn’t it the Lord that places them there?
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
-Psalms 37:4
Wrapped In Pink
As my pregnancy progressed, we found out that this beautiful little blessing was a sweet baby girl. Immediately, I wanted to name her Charlotte with Charlie for short.
But something impressed me to keep looking…
Okay, not something but someone (mom said “yuck”. Or something to that effect lol).
One day, I was listening to one of my favorite Christian songs “El Shaddai” when I heard these lyrics…
El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonai
Amy Grant, El-Shaddai
Age to age You’re still the same
By the power of the name
El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai, Erkahmka na Adonai
I will praise You till I die, El-Shaddai
It’s a song I had heard a thousand times before, but this time was different.
El-Elyon na Adonai…
El-Elyon na
I quickly opened up google and searched the word… El Elyon na means “God Most High.” So true!!
And with another scroll or two and that’s when I found it, Eliyanah.
The beauty of the name in both sound and spelling instantly drew me in and my curiosity piqued. What does it mean?
Tears streamed down my face as I read, “God has answered.”
Really?1 The Most High God and Creator of the universe heard my inner prayer and cry for a baby, and He has answered me personally.
Just… wow!
6 years later…
My sweet Eliyanah is now nearly 7-years-old and one of the great loves of my life.
Every day that I look at her and say her name, I hear the words “God has answered.”
Totally not crying right now.
I have learned so much over these amazing years as her mother, but the biggest lesson I have learned is that the God of the universe not only loves us, but He also hears and sees us. And He loves us so much that He takes the time to answer our prayers, both small and big.
Not only did He redeem my empty heart and arms, but He gave me so much more than I could have ever asked for.
If you had asked me nearly 12 years ago, if I saw the possibility of redemption in what I was going through, my answer would have been no.
But today, all I can say is “Thank you, God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Not only did he give me an amazing son and a sweet baby girl, but he has also blessed me with another son, making my heart fuller than I ever knew was possible.
Sometimes, without realizing it, we put limitations on God. Or we don’t dare to ask Him to fulfill our deepest desires because we feel undeserving…
But the truth is, God delights in giving us good gifts and the desires of our hearts.
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
– Matthew 7:11
If you are believing God for something or God has made a way in your life, I have a challenge for you. Answer these questions….
What’s your story?
Think back on your life…
What is your story of redemption?
I’d love to hear your answers in the comments. How has God changed your life? What are you thankful for this Easter?
What else can we thank Jesus Christ for today? EVERYTHING!
Join me as I say….
