Every book has a backstory, and Rebellion to Redemption is no exception. The words on its pages were not birthed in a classroom or drawn from theory. They came out of real life—out of my own rebellion, failure, and ultimately God’s grace.
I’ve learned something: before God redeems our finances, He often has to redeem our hearts. And sometimes that redemption begins with loss.
Chasing the Dream
Like many people, I grew up with a picture in my mind of “success.” It included the dream house, the financial security, the respect of others. And for a while, I had it.
We bought a home that I thought would be ours forever. It was beautiful, spacious, and in the right neighborhood. I poured myself into work to provide for it, to maintain it, to prove (mostly to myself) that I had “arrived.”
But deep down, something was off. My financial life looked good on the outside, but it was fueled by compromise on the inside. I was making decisions based more on the world’s values than God’s Word.
I claimed faith on Sunday, but by Monday my money was serving a different master.
The House That Broke Me
Then came the crash. Circumstances shifted, the numbers stopped working, and the house slipped out of my hands.
I can still remember the sinking feeling as I realized the dream home was no longer mine. I thought I had lost everything.
What I didn’t realize was that God was using that very loss to strip away my illusion of ownership and remind me of a deeper truth: I was never the owner to begin with.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). That verse hit me like a lightning bolt. I had been living as though the house was mine, the money was mine, the future was mine. But none of it was mine. It was all His. I was just a steward.
Rebellion in the Heart
Looking back, my real problem wasn’t a house or a bank account—it was a heart issue.
Rebellion isn’t always shaking your fist at God. Sometimes it looks like quietly sidelining Him while you pursue your own financial plans. It looks like compromise—investing in things you know don’t honor Him, spending as though money is your savior, or hoarding out of fear instead of trusting His provision.
That was me. My financial rebellion was subtle, but it was real.
And God, in His mercy, didn’t let me stay there.
The Beginning of Redemption
When the house was gone, I had a choice: wallow in bitterness or surrender in faith.
I chose surrender, though it wasn’t easy. I confessed my pride, my compromises, my false sense of security. I asked God to redeem not only my money but my mindset.
That was the beginning of a new chapter. Slowly, God started reshaping my view of money. No longer was it about ownership and accumulation. It became about stewardship and obedience.
I began to see that every dollar is a tool, every decision is an act of worship, and every investment is a reflection of my faith.
Stewardship as Redemption
Here’s the beauty of God’s redemption: He doesn’t just forgive rebellion—He transforms it.
Where I once saw money as a source of pride, I began to see it as a platform for obedience. Where I once clung tightly to possessions, I learned to hold them loosely. Where I once invested without thought, I began to ask, “Does this align with God’s values or work against them?”
God redeemed my financial story by reorienting it around Him.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Redemption means more than a clean slate—it means a brand-new way of living.
A Story Bigger Than Mine
I share this story not because it’s unique, but because it’s universal.
Every one of us has areas of financial rebellion. Maybe it’s debt that keeps you chained. Maybe it’s investments that compromise your convictions. Maybe it’s generosity that has dried up because fear whispers, “You can’t afford it.”
But here’s the good news: God doesn’t waste rebellion. He redeems it. He takes what we thought was failure and turns it into testimony.
My story of losing a house became the story of gaining perspective. My story of financial compromise became the story of faith-based conviction. My story of rebellion became a story of redemption.
And yours can too.
Living the Redemption Story
So what does redemption look like for you?
- Maybe it’s releasing ownership and declaring, “God, it’s all Yours.”
- Maybe it’s repenting of compromise in your financial decisions.
- Maybe it’s restructuring your budget so generosity reflects your gratitude.
- Maybe it’s aligning your investments with God’s heart, refusing to profit from what you pray against.
Redemption isn’t just a past event—it’s an ongoing process. Every financial choice you make can either reflect rebellion or redemption.
Living in the Assurance of God’s Grace
Here’s the truth that set me free: God’s grace is bigger than my rebellion.
I don’t have to carry shame from past mistakes. I don’t have to fear the future. I don’t have to prove my worth by what I own.
Because of Jesus, I live under redemption. And that redemption changes everything—including my relationship with money.
What I Want You to Remember
- My story began with rebellion but became a story of redemption.
- Money is not about ownership—it’s about stewardship.
- Losing what I thought I “owned” reminded me that God owns it all.
- God redeems rebellion and transforms it into testimony.
- Your story can be rewritten too, if you’ll surrender your finances to Him.
Money isn’t just math—it’s a mirror. And in my case, that mirror once reflected rebellion. But now, by God’s grace, it reflects redemption.
And that’s the story He wants to write for you too.