Each person has a story. A purpose. A reason to be here. We were created for more. By a creator who is personal and intentional. A God who is bigger and more than we could ever comprehend. A God who seeks and fights for our best. He knows, cares, and sees each of us. You are seen. You are valued. You are His.
Stories capture our attention; they draw us in for more. We seek to hear and experience stories. We are curious to see what will happen and often see ourselves in part of the story. We look for resolution. We relate to the characters and anticipate the plot. Whether fictional in books and film or reality with people in this world. Stories connect us and remind us that we aren’t alone.
I think God gave us this draw towards stories for a reason. He has created a story in each of our lives. He writes each piece and connects them with others around us. He also allows us to be a part of His story. The story He is writing. His story of redemption. Redeeming this sinful, broken world through His Son and the power of the resurrection. He sacrificed His one and only Son to restore this fallen world. So that each of us could be restored in our relationship with our Father, our creator.
Redeemed. Here is a brief testimony of the redemption God is writing in my life as He has drawn me closer to Him and as I seek to know Him more.
Naturally, I’m a young woman drawn towards achieving. Seeking to work hard, build relationships, create efficient systems, and be recognized. I’m drawn towards opportunities to challenge myself and learn. I desire to be known. To be seen. I want to achieve. To get things done and see the fruit of my labor. I desire to be well liked, to avoid conflict, to be comfortable. Focused on the next steps to move forward to make someone around me proud. I want to live a life well lived. To get the most out of my experiences.
With God, I’ve been given clarity and meaning behind the way I was created. He created me with desires towards accuracy and support. To work hard and be thorough with tasks in order to get things done well. To build relationships with people and be a form of support, looking out for the good of the team. He wants to use the ways He has molded me for His good.
My world without Him was full of chaos, fear, unending thoughts and worries, doubt, depression, changing friendships, fearful interactions, and continued pain. He actively has taken these realities and shattered them as He has redeemed me and created new life full of His freedom and peace. He has moved and answered prayers in the last few months and year in ways I’ve never experienced before. I’ve experienced God giving me purpose when all has felt lost; hope in the midst of depression; peace in the midst of chaos; and joy in the midst of sorrow and grief.
This year has been one of rebuilding. My prayers this year have turned more and more towards: God help me to seek you more and more, learn and desire to know you, learn who you’ve created me to be, and allow these truths to transform my life – bringing freedom and trust in your faithfulness. I’ve seen God direct my path and share with me each next step when I trust in His timing and the next step for today. I’ve also seen Him move and transform my mind and heart. He has created a sense of belonging again in places where it’s felt lost, unknown, and bitter and that has been so healing.
God has shown me how disruptive prayer can be when you decide to actually make it a daily and prioritized piece of living. God has moved and answered prayer in the small, mundane times as well as the mountains He has moved already. Seeing His faithfulness has brought me so much hope and trust as He has made His presence and work more known to me this year.
God has shown me how He is writing a story of redemption not just in my life but in this world. He wants to take all the brokenness, the crap, the unknown, the sin, the abuse, the neglect, the disappointment, the hurt, and pain…. He wants to take this weight from off of us and replace it with His peace, His strength, His comfort, His presence, His love, His kindness, His character, His faithfulness, His promises, His joy, and His provision. He just asks each of us to come, come as we are.
In response to the story He is writing and the transformation I’ve experienced so far in this life, I can’t help but want to live a life authentic and genuine. To live and share the truth and hope that comes from living a life with Jesus. God didn’t create us to live this life on our own though. He created us for community with Him and with fellow believers. I desire this so much – to experience life together with the body of Christ. To live in places that feel safe to call home, with people to share the highs and lows of life with, people to not just see Maddie a friendly face, but see Madison Riley a girl seeking to build authentic relationships with others as she seeks God and has a heart for life-long learning.
Each day I want to release my desire for control, to surrender, and to live in the freedom He gives – handing over my plans and expectations and instead receiving His strength, joy, peace, freedom, and love. I have hope that He is going to continue to move in the mountains and in the valleys of life. That He is faithful and able – He is completely capable of moving those mountains that continue to exist just as much as He is able and cares about moving through the day to day moments.
I want to challenge each of us to be culture shifters, changers, and challengers. To acknowledge where there is impatience and desire for instant gratification. To recognize our areas of stagnation and complacency. To push against the grind and challenge the status quo. This may seem risky or dangerous. It’s against our natural inclination, but I believe God has a different plan for each of us than to live in the trappings of this world.
He has a purpose and plan beyond that is full of freedom, peace, and grace. To live authentic lives full of vulnerability, grace, and gratitude. To seek our Lord first and foremost, to ask Him to give us a teachable spirit, and to share the love of the Lord with those around us. Let our prayer be that we can sing these words as we seek to live out this limited time on Earth for Him… “let my heart want for nothing, but you, just you. The riches of this world, could never satisfy. Let my heart want for only you”. Let my heart want for only you.
Only Jesus by Bethel Music
It won’t happen all at once. Change takes time. It takes patience. Sometimes God will say “just wait”, and that’s okay. Even in our broken areas and in the pain, He still hears our broken prayers. Even when we can’t imagine how we will get through the next day or can’t see the light at the end of the dark tunnel around us, He is still constant. Some days are easier to believe it, but we have to remind and repeat to ourselves this truth each day. We have to be intentional to remember who He is and His character despite the circumstances around us.
Madison Riley
Worship Recommendations
Freedom Hymn by Austin French
Resurrecting by Elevation Worship
Broken Prayer by Riley Clemmons
Resurrection Power by Chris Tomlin
