Rescued To Rescue

Psalms 18:48 (NIV)
“Who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.”

To be rescued, you must first acknowledge that you are in need of rescuing. One of the amazing things about God is that He has a purpose in everything. While He gives us our free will, His love for us is so great that He extends His mercy and grace in times we need to be rescued from our terrible decisions and soulish desires.

Many years ago, I was in a toxic and abusive relationship, and the only One that I knew could rescue me was God, and rescue me He did. I remember praying and asking Him to rescue me and if He did, I would serve Him with my whole life. I promised Him that I would never go back to the life I was living. I made a vow to the Lord and knew I had to keep it. While it was a process, I had to learn to trust God. Fear was so deeply embedded within me that God’s rescue mission took a little bit longer than I had anticipated. It always amazes me, how in the process of answering our prayers, the Lord also builds our character and teaches us to trust in Him.

A part of the process was reading the Bible and praying. I had always loved to read so I devoured the Bible, I ate the word of God. It was my lifeline. Little did I know, it was His way to strengthen me for the rescue mission that was about to take place. The more I read, the stronger I became in my faith, and I began to see Him as a loving Father who loved and cared about me more than anyone did. Having been abandoned by my biological father at age six, it was a process. It was hard to believe that I had a Father who loved me and loved me unconditionally. God’s rescue mission for my life served a greater purpose than anything I could have imagined at the time.

The fear I felt for the man I was living with was like anything I had ever experienced. Whenever I would leave, fear of the threats he made, caused me to return. This went on for a few years, and one day I left after a violent fight, and I ran for my life. Early one morning, while I was on the run and hiding, I became so fearful, I trembled. Fear had spread to my bones, and I shivered constantly. I didn’t have anyone to turn to, my family had abandoned me, and I couldn’t trust anyone. The only Person I had was Jesus and that morning when I woke up, the first thing I heard from Him was Psalm 18:48, “Who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.” After I read it, I broke. I knew that was it and there was no going back. The fear began to melt out of my bones, it was all a part of God’s rescue mission for my life.

I had been rescued to rescue those that were in captivity like I had been. This rescue mission was a process, and the Comforter never left me. Daily, He gave me what I needed to survive. God’s rescue mission for my life became my “why.” Why I serve Him with my heart, why I worship Him the way I do, why I love Him the way I do. He is my everything! The process of saving me began when I didn’t even know I was in danger. He directed my life and spoke to me in dreams and visions. He gave me hope, when I thought all hope was lost. The Lord waited for and protected me. The ones that believed that I could never survive without that relationship are no longer here. The Lord has been gracious and merciful to me. He is kind to me.

There is no pit that you have been thrown in, or no cave that you find yourself hiding in, that He isn’t able to rescue you from. My hope, my encouragement for you is that you would take the bold step to trust Him like I did. My prayer for you, is that you would allow Him to free you from the fear of leaving a relationship that you know isn’t His plan for your life. I want you to trust the Lord that set Peter free from prison. (Acts 12:5-17) You are never too far gone, never too messy for God to save you. He loves with a love that is nothing like you’ve ever experienced. There is no abusive relationship that He can’t rescue you from. I’m a living testimony of a merciful and gracious Father, and He’s also available to you. He is the One who leaves the ninety-nine, to go after that one. I have been rescued to rescue, to share my story with you, to bring hope to others. I know that the Lord can do the same for you. Daughter of Fire, keep trusting the One who has the power to rescue you, He has an amazing plan for your life, like He did for mine. Love is not abuse, love is not toxic. Instead, love is kind, patient, gracious, caring and compassionate, love is Jesus.