“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV

The Rescuer

When I was in high school, I began dating. I met a man in uniform and was smitten. A young man in the military! Unfortunately, he used drugs. I always felt that I could make a difference for him and someday he wouldn’t need them anymore. I truly believed that I could change him. After a couple years of dating, we married. Over the next 12 years there were good times but the drug use only got worse until it got to the point where I couldn’t stay with him and keep our children safe. There were bouts of rehab and recovery, but they were followed by worsening relapses.

As I suffered through difficult times, I sometimes failed to even reach out to God because I figured that I got myself into the situation and deserved whatever was happening. How I wish I could reach out to my younger self and let her know that God yearned for me to call out to Him.

There were many times through those years that I did cry out to God for help. And yet there were also many times that I didn’t. I heaped suffering on myself because I felt like I was just reaping the consequences of my own decisions. A wise woman once taught a Bible study where she described sitting in a pit with her pity party shirt on. I could totally identify with that picture. I know that God was just waiting for me to reach up and let Him help me out of the pit. But there I sat, feeling sorry for myself.

I did learn that God would rescue me out of the messes I got myself into. And the good news is that now, many years later, my ex-husband is clean and sober and works at a mission helping others who are fighting the same battles he fought. He also just graduated from a university and has a goal to start a non-profit to help others.

God is a much better rescuer than I was. And it was in His timing for His purposes. He truly does work all things for His glory.

“Lord, help us to always cry out to You in our need. Help us to not forget that You are for us, no matter what. Thank You for Your grace, mercy and redemption.”