April 13, Bathsheba: Grace and Redemption

Theme: Understanding God's ability to bring beauty out of brokenness.

Linda Wright-Patrick 
Eight Mile Rock SDA, Bahamas

Scripture:  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence’” Acts 2:26-28 NIV.

The pain was stuck between my stomach and my throat, crushing my heart in the process. How could I really move on from here? Is this pain ever going away? How can I recover from the hurt? 

The questions plagued me and caused many nights to be filled with twisting and turning. 

The touch was dirty and left me feeling ugly, ashamed, burdened, and disconnected from my body. That experience with someone I trusted who had authority over me left me disillusioned, defeated and definitely destroyed my sense of value and self. 

The feeling of being out of control, totally helpless and at the mercy of someone else lingered on me. 

I understood how Bathsheba felt. When she was summoned, it meant that her choices was life or death, exposure or silence, internal agony or public shame. Bathsheba found herself caught in an intimate relationship with King David which was completely against the tradition and morality of not just her time but of today. (Read the complete story in 2 Samuel 11, 12.)

Whether she orchestrated the scene to place herself in King David’s view or it was an innocent chance encounter, she could not have predicted the devastation her liaison with the king would have caused. 

As ladies, we have faced pain, grief, ugliness, brokenness at the hands of others and we have dished out one or two of them ourselves. But just as God turned my feelings of despondency, fear, and ugliness into joy, faith and beauty He can do the same for you. Just as I had to claim my right as God’s beautiful daughter who is valued and loved and can exercise the power of forgiveness, you can too. 

How could something so ugly turn out so beautiful you may ask? How can brokenness turn into blessing? It is only through God’s transforming power. Bathsheba and David’s relationship produced King Solomon which eventually became the lineage from which Jesus was born. Now that is beauty from ashes!

Bathsheba’s story is one filled with grace and redemption not just from God, but it reminds me as a woman to also be willing to extend grace to others. Women are walking around with so much baggage - neglect, financial strain, unresolved trauma, abuse, unchecked anger, pain of loss and regret, agony over poor life choices, despair regarding mistakes that have harmed others, betrayal and uncertainty over the future.  We as God’s daughters must extend love to them and show them that no matter where they are now the future will be brighter. 

You my sister can find that no matter how dark the cloud looming over you is, God is here to heal, forgive, protect, restore, give you hope, turn your mourning into dancing and love you unconditionally. Your life may not be where you want it but if you have Jesus as a part of it you will find joy, unspeakable joy as beauty comes out of brokenness. 

Repeat this prayer with me.

Lord, I need you. Help me to see your love surrounding me and arms embracing me. Free me from the pain of my past and let me see the vision of what you want for me. May I Iove my sisters unconditionally as you continue to love me. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness and may I exercise them in my relationships as well. Thank you for assuring me of my value and worth, in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.