We are in year 2 of a seven year prison sentence with one of our sons. In year 2 we are seeing an increasingly amount of growth in him! We’ve been through prison sentences with him before but never one this long. But this is what happens when he chose to self-sabotage his life instead of dealing with the shame that has been the voice in his head most of his life. And the secrets that were strangling him. This 7-year sentence from his self-sabotage has cost him quite a bit plus he’s not a young thing anymore to bounce right back into his life.

This is his story to share. As he is putting words to the shame and the secrets he is beginning to put truth into his life. He has started to share some peeks of that with John and I, the parents who took him in at age 12. And he has given me permission to share it with you all. Because this is the beginning of how you live a real brave life–to stop allowing the shame to keep your life a secret.

I believe wholeheartedly that God redeems every bit of our pain. Job’s story in how he was restored double of everything he owned, his family and friends after he’d been stripped of it all by Satan. By Job not denying God during his torment, he displayed his love for God, which we all in some degree have to do the same so our love also becomes evidence to God. He loves us so! We are his children, so when we are in pain grace abounds, mercy abounds, and His love far exceeds any torment we may encounter.

The refining of gold comes to mind. This task consists of the gold being polished and freed from its impurities. Much like gold, God cherishes us and want us to flourish with the fruits of the Spirit. But the process requires us to go through some sort of training, molding or refining.

I thank God for pain! We become stronger. We become wiser. We gain an understanding. We learn how to love, how to be loved, and how much we are loved. Through this revelation alone the redeeming has begun!

Terrill Weathers