Redemption

I want to share a video set with you I recently watched. In it, I found another layer of freedom. The interview was done on the Shawn Ryan Show with Victor Marx. It’s in three parts on YouTube. I believe that you can find Shawn Ryan’s podcast in other places as well. I will say that it could be triggering if you have abuse in your history. However, he talks about healing as well.

What I loved about this interview, besides the work that God has done in his heart and family, is how God is using Victor now. There is so much redemption and grace. For one, this man and others like him are an answer to my prayers and many others. The work that they are doing to save kids from the worst of this world is so important.  

His story breaks ideas or expectations we might have about what a Christian serving Jesus is supposed to look like. I know at times I have looked to certain other believers as to what that was supposed to look like. I mean, after all, they grew up in it, I didn’t. I looked to them for confirmation that I was on the right track.

I think many newly born-again believers who look to find a place to serve God first go to the idea of becoming a pastor. That’s fine, but there are many other places to serve as well. God is using Victor’s previous life and skills to do really good work. I love Jesus’ redemption stories. He leaves nothing out. Nothing is wasted. He has a plan for your whole life, not just part. 

It’s so easy to try to look for something that is already being done to find where we might fit in. Besides looking to where we fit in, we may be looking for approval from others to find where we belong. What makes us think that someone else knows? The one who made us knows. He didn’t plan any part of our lives with a cookie cutter. He cares about the one, the individual, and the details.  

 I realized that I was still looking for approval from a few individuals. Letting go of that is freeing. We may look to others when we don’t feel confident in ourselves and our own decisions, especially when our lives are completely disrupted.

Letting God lead you can be scary at times, but he will never fail you. Every scary time is just more opportunity to learn to trust God more.

I hope you find time to watch all three parts of this interview. It’s worth it.