Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
(Psalm 103:1-2 NLT)
We all have a variety of plants – good and bad – in the garden of our lives.
Some of us may have struggled to find many “weeds” in the garden of our lives, because – for the most part – we’ve had really good seeds sown into us. Our roots are strong in the Lord. We know God’s faithfulness, provision, and protection because we grew up in families and/or churches that taught us this truth.
Others of us may have had trouble finding good seeds and good legacies to list. Maybe our childhood was full of storms or trauma. Maybe our soul wounds of things like rejection, fears, and anxiety have never been healed, and we unknowingly or with full recognition, operate out of those wounds.
The Bible gives us real-life examples of women who show both good and bad roots—and the fruit that came from them. Some are remembered for their great faith. Others, for their failures. Most had a mixture of both.
Jezebel (1 Kings): A deeply corrupt queen, remembered for her idolatry and cruelty.
Mary, mother of Jesus: A humble woman of faith, who said “yes” to God’s call, even at great personal cost.
But most women in Scripture are more complex:
The Samaritan Woman (John 4): Had a messy past and was rejected by society. But after meeting Jesus, her story was redeemed. She became an evangelist in her own town.
Sapphira (Acts 5): A member of the early church, but she and her husband lied about their giving and were struck dead for their deceit.
Sarah (Genesis 12–23): Praised for her faith, yet she doubted God’s promise, laughed in disbelief, and mistreated her servant Hagar.
Rebekah (Genesis 24–27): Showed courage and kindness early in life, but later manipulated her son Jacob to deceive her husband Isaac and steal Esau’s blessing.
Rahab (Joshua 2): A prostitute from Jericho. But because she hid the Israelite spies, she was saved—and ultimately became part of Jesus’ family line. Her story shows that even with a past full of brokenness, God can create something redemptive and lasting.
These women remind us that:
-We’re all a mix of good and bad roots.
-God uses imperfect people.
-Our stories can be redeemed.
-Our legacies can be rewritten.
The cruelest word, the coldest heart
The deepest wound, the endless dark
The lonely ache, the burning tears
The bitter nights, the wasted years
Life breaks and falls apart
But we know these are
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered
Is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed
For every choice that led to shame
And all the love that never came
For every vow that someone broke
And every life that gave up hope
We live in the shadow of the fall
But the cross says these are all
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But when anything that’s shattered
Is laid before the Lord
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed
Oh, He will wipe every tear
Will not be, be unredeemed
Places where grace is soon to be so amazing
It may be unfulfilled, it may be unrestored
But you never know the miracle the Father has in store
Just watch and see, it will not be
Just watch and see, it will not be unredeemed*
So let me say it again:
Legacy is what we leave behind after we’re gone—not just in our possessions, but in our impact, our values, and our influence.
You and I have inherited both good and bad legacies. But with God’s help, we can celebrate the good—and surrender the harmful roots to him.
Redeeming God,
We recognize today your goodness, greatness, power and perfection, and our mixed-bag natures. We praise you for your perfect creation, for creating us in the image of Christ, and for your Word and Spirit you put within us. We remember all the good things you do for us. We also know our sinfulness and our brokenness. We pray you will forgive our confessed sin, and that you will meet us in the broken places. Heal us, we pray. Redeem us from death, and crown us with your love and tender mercies. Fill us with good things and renew our youth like the eagle’s. Meet us with your grace, your miracles, and your redemption, we ask in Jesus’s name. AMEN.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (Psalm 103:1-5 NLT)
* “Unredeemed” by Brian David Petak | Chad Cates | Tony Wood © 2006 New Spring; Row J, Seat 9 Songs; Upper Cates Music; Growth Spurt Music