Redeemer

I've seen how God has redeemed marriages that looked like there was no way they would survive. I've also seen how He has redeemed certain dates on the calendar--replacing the anniversary of a friend's divorce with a new proposal and changing a date marked to remember a death to a date to celebrate the life of a newborn. But I never suspected He would redeem other insignificant events.

Remember back when I tried to go to a Green River Ordinance concert but couldn't make myself go in because there were no assigned seats? If not, the recap is here.

Not too long after that, I heard that GRO was playing a free concert at a church here in town on a Friday evening. One band was going to open for them, and then GRO was going to take the stage about 8 p.m. I knew that after a long day at work, it would be hard to stay for long after 8 p.m., but I thought I'd at least get to hear a few of their songs.

On the night of the concert, to my delight, they announced that GRO would be playing first. I was able to see their whole show for free. It may seem small and insignificant, but to me, it was a reminder that God sees and hears our smallest desires. It was a redeeming concert just for me, by His grace alone.

The Path

On April 1, 2010, a friend showed me this path, and we walked it together. I thought it was going to do me in with all its steep inclines. Despite the fact that the path is replete with numerous hills and that the temperature was hot most of the time, I walked this path over and over again last year until it got too cold to walk or college football season started, I can't remember which.

I started walking this path at a time when I felt like my life was stagnating, and this path let me think things through. It was a constant that could have felt repetitive as the path didn't change day after day, but there was such a sense of completion in walking the 3.4 miles up and down those hills. That path became a great reminder that sometimes we are supposed to just keep walking the path, even when it feels circular, as we wait on God.

Instead of a circular path, you might be traveling a steep path in your own life right now. But I would encourage you to stay on it until you hear God directing you to go another way, and hold onto these Truths as you walk your path:

My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. Psalm 17:5

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. Psalm 23:3

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, received the promise. Hebrews 6:15