In Him We are Redeemed
When Quick Fixes Fail and Grace Steps In
I’ve learned something over the years. Most of the time, the things we think are “quick fixes” rarely stay small. What starts as a simple problem has a way of getting bigger and faster than we expect. And if we’re honest, we don’t just do that with home repairs. We do it with our lives too. We patch things, cover things up, and hope it holds. But God doesn’t work that way. He offers something better.
READ IT
Ephesians 1:7–8 (CSB)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
OWN IT
When I owned my first house, I ran into a plumbing issue with the bathroom sink. The fix seemed simple enough. Just replace the water supply line. Easy job. Five minutes. No big deal.
In one of my not-so-bright moments, I decided I could just take the old line off and put the new one on real quick.
Why would I need to turn the water off?
It’s basically like a hose, right?
Some water might spray out, but that’s it.
Yeah…no.
The moment I took that line off, water shot out in a high-pressure stream about two feet from the wall. I panicked. I ran around like a tornado, grabbed a bucket, and started bailing water like a madman.
Then I did the most logical thing my flooded brain could think of.
I grabbed the phone and called my pharmacy. Why the pharmacy? I worked there on Saturdays at the time, and that was the only phone number I could recall quickly. When water is shooting out of the wall that fast, your brain tends to not work right.
Anyway, thankfully Alice answered, and I pleaded with her to call the water department and have them turn my water off. I had known Alice for a long time. When I was little, my Mama and Daddy would take my brothers and I over there to hang out after church. I was so glad she answered. She didn’t ask what I did. She didn’t lecture me. She just helped. And thankfully, the water department showed up quickly and shut my water off.
Once the water stopped, I went outside to talk to the water guy. We knew each other, so of course he asked what happened. I told him. I felt stupid. He got a good laugh and probably a good story to tell back at the department.
But I also learned something.
I never made that mistake again.
I always turn the water off before doing any plumbing work now.
Because sometimes what we think is going to be a small issue turns into a big problem really fast.
Growing up in church, I used to say my testimony was boring. I didn’t have some dramatic story with huge turning points or wild moments. But a pastor once reminded me of something I needed to hear:
Being saved by Jesus is amazing all by itself.
Redemption doesn’t require chaos to be meaningful.
Just like Alice helping me when I called her in a panic, Jesus doesn’t stop to ask where you’ve been, how you got there, or why you made the mistake in the first place. He shows up to rescue you.
So often in home improvement, we patch things or do temporary fixes. We do it because we’re in a hurry or we just need the problem handled right now. And sure, it works for a while. But eventually, that same issue comes back. Sometimes worse than before.
I’ve learned that sometimes the only real solution is to tear it down and rebuild it the right way.
That’s what redemption is like.
God doesn’t just patch our sin. He doesn’t slap on a quick fix and hope it holds. He redeems us completely and makes us new. The old is gone. A new creation takes its place.
And this time, the foundation actually holds.
LIVE IT
Today, resist the urge to patch something God wants to fully rebuild.
When shame, temptation, or regret surface, don’t rush to cover it up or minimize it. Bring it honestly to God and thank Him for already providing redemption through Jesus.
Live like the problem has been handled — because it has.
GO DEEPER
Where are you tempted to settle for a temporary fix instead of trusting God with full restoration?
Why do you think it’s easier to accept forgiveness than to believe God has truly made you new?
How does remembering your own redemption shape the way you respond to other people’s mistakes?
DINNER TABLE DEVOTIONAL
Have you ever tried to fix something quickly and made it worse? What happened?
Why do you think people sometimes hide their mistakes instead of asking for help?
What does it mean to be “made new” rather than just “patched up”?
PRAY IT
Father, thank You for redeeming me completely through Jesus. Help me stop settling for quick fixes when You offer full restoration. Remind me today that I am not defined by my past, but by Your grace. Make me new where You need to rebuild.
Amen.
A little further afield. All of our righteous deeds are as filthy rags before our God.
Allow me to go a little afield. The Holy Spirit, through Whom the only acceptable works are done, is received by…….you guessed it, faith.