"When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion." -Ezekiel 19:5
The back story to this verse is an expression of sorrow for for the Princes of Israel. It gives two stories; one of a mother lion raising one cub to be a strong lion. When he was full grown and the nations had heard of him they caught him and took him away, so the mother lion raised up another cub to be a strong lion who became even more ferocious than his brother. He was attacked by surrounding nations and lost. The second story is of a vineyard who is abundant in fruit and was seen by many because of it's great height. It was soon devoured and laid to waste by all who could see it.
This verse now seems pretty depressing and devoid of hope. However, this verse comes into the picture a while later:
"And his name-by faith in his name- has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all." - Acts 3:16
This verse is referencing an event that happened between a beggar who couldn't walk and peter and John, two apostles. This beggar was sitting outside the temple gate called "Beautiful" (sort of fitting). He had been lame since birth and Peter and John walked by as the beggar asked them for money. Peter told the beggar to look at him and he expected something from them. "But Peter said, 'I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!'" the beggar got up and his legs and feet were immediately strengthened. The beggar walked with them into the temple he had sat outside of for years and praised God. People crowded around Peter and John and praised them but they stopped the people and gave praise to Jesus.
When all seems lost and we feel that we keep working harder and harder to redeem ourselves, we have to realize that it won't work. We cannot redeem what is not ours. We are made in the image of Christ, of God himself! Therefore we are a product of the creator, so we are his. Only he can redeem us. Christ was sent to rescue the lost and the broken who are seeking him. "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." - 1 Corinthians 1:25 We find strength in him but only if we have faith that he exists. "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:3-5 All of this is making us stronger through faith. But to have faith to be redeemed(rescued) which will strengthen you in every area of your life that can be used to glorify the King!
My prayer for you is that you will see how finding purpose in this world is not satisfying. You can have full satisfaction in Christ but you have to give up what is holding you down. You are loved. If you have faith that Christ can change you then you will be strengthened daily. You are loved. You are loved. You are loved.
