Waiting for the Day

Genesis 29:18 

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 

Talking to Rachel’s dad, Laban, was tricky for Jacob. Isn’t it always nerve-wracking for any guy to talk to his potential father-in-law? But Jacob figured Rachel was worth whatever he had to do to win her father over.

Jacob and Rachel had a long love story. He had to be patient. He had to work to earn the opportunity to be her husband. This reminds me of a few movies I’ve seen. It’s a common theme in romantic movies. Sometimes love isn’t simply a date/proposal/wedding situation. There is usually a lot to overcome before the marriage can begin.

So how do we spend our time while we’re waiting for that next step, the wedding? Jacob stayed in close connection to his beloved Rachel and her father. When he finally married her, all that waiting time seemed to be a distant memory. Isn’t that how it is when you’re in love?

Time floats away on clouds when you’re in love.

I’m sure this is because God is bigger than time. God invented time. He allows it to seem different to us depending on our perspective. Lovers see time one way, but employers see it another way. Children think three months of summer seems like years, but the parents experience it as just weeks.

Even the decades on the earth that we call our lifetime are just a small part of the timeline that God sees. Our time perspective changes according to what we focus on. When we focus on God and his will, our chances of seeing the big picture improve. Focusing on love helps us to be more patient and more generous with those around us.

Have a happy Valentine’s weekend, and thanks for seeking God with me.

The Unexpected Blessing

Genesis 27:21

Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

Jacob wasn’t expecting to get his father’s blessing. His mother persuaded him that dressing up like his hairy brother and serving the meal to his father to get the blessing was a great idea. Isaac was old and his senses were failing. It was risky, but Jacob believed he could pull it off.

When someone has a plan all figured out, he doesn’t want anyone messing with his plan. He doesn’t want surprises. I’ve felt this way recently when I planned out how to get a couple hours of errands done. However, my husband wanted to help out before the day was finished. When he took on some of the tasks I had delegated to my kids, I knew it wasn’t likely that all of my plans were going to be accomplished. I really enjoyed being with my husband, but that surprise, as wonderful as it was, meant that I’d have to reassign some tasks for the next day. Even though my plans were all messed up, my unexpected blessing was spending a little more time with my hunky husband.

Isaac had planned to give Esau his blessing, but when Jacob showed up instead, Isaac hesitated. Isaac expected Esau, but he heard Jacob’s voice. He asked the boy to come close so he could touch him just to make sure. I can imagine Isaac was trying to decide if his hearing was about to go out as well. He knew something wasn’t right, but he went ahead and gave the blessing.

When Esau finally came in to give his father the meal and receive his blessing, his father asked who he was. Not a good sign.

Isaac’s plan had been messed up. Jacob had to leave the area immediately to flee from his brother’s wrath. But he’d been blessed by his father in a way that left no room for Esau in that blessing. When you read places in the Bible like Exodus 4:5 (“This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.”), you don’t read Esau’s name, but Jacob’s.

I wonder if God messes up our plans to give us an unexpected blessing.

Rest from School

Genesis 2:3

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Is there someone in your home who just finished a year or a semester of school? Whether you’re a teacher or a student, you need a break from all that hard work. I have good news.

It’s okay to rest when you’ve given your best.

God spent days creating this masterpiece we live in. He carved out lakes and created mountains. God gave us beautiful flowers and trees for our landscapes. He populated our landscapes with interesting animals He created delicate butterflies and cuddly bunnies.

And on the seventh day, he rested.

God says it’s okay to rest when you’ve done your best.

Now, it’s summer, and we’re celebrating. My kids have studied and tested, and now they’re getting rested. We plan to have a summer vacation with lots of activity and discovery. They’re not taking a break from learning, just worksheets and testing.

What do you do to rest after months of hard work?  

Sarah

Genesis 20:2

And there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.

What would you feel like if you were a guy dating a beautiful girl introduced to you by a friend, but your friend didn’t tell you she was married? This happened (sort of) in the book of Genesis where Abraham told a king that Sarah was his sister. Genesis 20:3 explains what happened. “But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, ‘You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.’”

Abimelek wasn’t used to having God appear to him in dreams, so he took the message very seriously. He called Abraham in for a meeting and asked him why he would do such a thing.

Why would Abraham lie to the king? Did Abraham really lie? No. Sarah really was his sister because his dad was Sarah’s father with another mother.

The reason he told the king Sarah was his sister was because he was afraid they would find her irresistibly attractive and kill Abraham in order to have her. But instead of killing Abraham, the king listened to God in his dream and asked Abraham to pray for healing for his household. Sarah ended up with her husband, and the king's household was healed.

Come back next week for more about beautiful women. And find out about men who made mistakes because they didn't seek God first.

Melchizedek is a Church Worker

Genesis 14:19-20

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.

In Genesis 14, we find that five kings (including the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah) marched out against four kings. However, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, leaving their cities open to trouble. The four kings seized the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and some people, including Abram’s nephew Lot.

When Abram found out that his nephew had been taken captive, he rounded up a posse from the 318 born in his household. The men strategized and pursued until they recovered the people and goods that were stolen by the four kings.

The grateful king of Sodom came out to meet Abram to receive the people who belonged to him. He wanted to pay Abram for his help, but Abram would only accept food for his men and a share of the goods for the men who fought with him. Abram wouldn’t accept payment for himself.

So where was Melchizedek in all this?

As soon as Abram returned from the victorious battle, he brought a tenth of the goods to Melchizedek, who served Abram bread and wine. He was described as Melchizedek king of Salem, priest of God Most High. Abram received this priest’s blessing (above) in Genesis 14:19-20.  

From Hebrews 7, we know that Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”, and king of Salem means “king of peace.” This priest was on hand to represent God in celebration of the victory. God had helped Abram get back what was stolen, and Abram knew it. Abram didn’t suffer from greediness because he knew that no man could make him as rich as God could. He didn’t depend on man for his wealth because he knew God.

Melchizedek was aware of Abram’s heart. He was available to Abram for the blessing from God’s priest, the king of righteousness.

Have you prayed for God’s blessing to be on the church workers in your area? I know they’re praying for God’s blessing over the Abrams of your town.

What Would You Do For Stew?

Genesis 25: 32-33

“Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” 

But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.”

So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.

Have you ever promised something and followed up that promise with, “Fine. Whatever. Doesn’t matter anyway.”

If you take important things seriously, your word means something. Your word is something others can count on. You know what matters and what doesn’t. If you act and speak like something doesn’t matter to you, it obviously doesn’t.

Esau was a hunter. Jacob was a cook. One day when Esau came back from a hunting trip, the only thing on his mind was the stew Jacob was cooking. It smelled good. Very appetizing.

Esau was hungry. Jacob was scheming to get as much as he could in return for his fabulous stew. Esau, being the firstborn son, had something Jacob wanted. His birthright. This was Jacob’s opportunity to find out how seriously Esau took his birthright. Jacob knew no stew was worth giving up your birthright for, but Esau looked pretty hungry.

Jacob made Esau swear to give Jacob his birthright before filling up a big bowl with that aromatic, warm, mouth-watering, meaty stew.

Esau gave up something very important over a bowl of stew. Not a lifetime supply. Just one bowl. Today, some girls give up their innocence over a date. Some get knee-deep in debt over expensive entertainment items. Is it worth it? Really?

What would it take for you to give up something important? Maybe we should take inventory of the really important things we still have and guard against the deceitfulness of others. What in your life is important enough to protect?

He's Your Brother

Genesis 4:9-10

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”

The first murder in the Bible was one brother against another. Cain rose up in anger at his brother Abel, whose offering was accepted by the Lord while Cain’s was not.

After that, Cain feared for his life, but God marked him. It wasn’t a red light on the forehead that we see in movies today when someone points a gun. It was a mark singling Cain out as one who is protected. His punishment was to live out his years as a fugitive and a vagabond, so God made sure no one took it upon himself to kill Cain. He went on to bear children who would carry his sin through the generations. Cain’s grandson Irad’s great-grandson Lamech (Gen 4:23) killed a man for wounding him. This is not the same Lamech who was Noah’s father. Noah came from the lineage of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve.

Do you think that God has forgotten you? God was there to protect the one who committed the first murder. Certainly God can protect you too.

God sees us and knows us and loves us anyway. No matter what we do, God still reaches out to us. Obviously, he’s not happy about our bad attitudes and bad decisions, but he loves us.

Can you think of a way to thank God today for his persistent love for you? Maybe you’d like to start a journal and record all of the times you’ve seen God’s hand at work in your life.

Our First Garments

Genesis 3:21

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Do you remember the first lie you ever heard? Probably not. We hear so many lies today from so many people. Some are advertisements with implied lies. If you buy their product, you’ll be cool or thinner or happier. Advertisers sometimes take a fact and dress it up so they can use it to their advantage. “Fat-free” and “No Sugar Added” are terms dieting people look for. They are not guarantees that you will not gain weight while eating that product. Those terms might be the truth, but they’re not the whole truth.

This reminds me of Adam and Eve in the garden in the book of Genesis. I think Eve was such an easy target because she’d never heard a lie before. Adam had no reason to lie to her. God didn’t lie to her. She never needed to be cautious about believing what she’d been told. So the serpent took a fact and twisted it to cause a change in her life. He might as well have said, “Once you eat this fruit, you’ll never be the same again. Your whole life will change.”

Sounds good, doesn’t it? But shouldn't that kind of advertising make us skeptical?

Adam should’ve sat her down and said, “Let’s think this through. Something doesn’t sound right about it.” Instead, Adam and Eve made the mistake of their lives. They were duped. They were ashamed. They hid from God, worried about his reaction to their fruit-tasting experiment.

They sewed leaves together. You probably didn’t know that camouflage clothes were thousands of years old. Knowing God would eventually find them, they hid in the bushes and waited.

When they heard the question they dreaded, “What is this you have done?”, they responded, and then they heard the judgments and curses that came about because of their sin. When God finished warning them about the aftereffects, he made clothes for Adam and Eve.

This reminds me of when my kids were little. If they made a mess, they tried to fix it or hide it. I can imagine God looking down on Adam and Eve and thinking of them like I thought of my kids. The first thing I had to do was talk to my kids about what they had done, and then reassure them. Next, I had to take off their filthy clothes, clean up the kids, and put new clothes on them.

That’s just what God did. He spoke to them, pulled them out of their leaves and put them in better clothes. God made leather clothes for them – or animal skin clothes.

He did whatever was necessary to give Adam and Eve freedom to discover new things and make decisions, but he also wanted to protect them. Now that they had to deal with thorns and thistles, they had to wear leather for protection.

God loved Adam – before, during, and after he sinned. Giving him clothes was a part of that love.

Accusing the Innocent

Genesis 44:8

We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

Joseph and his brothers were at odds with each other when Joseph was young. When he was an adult, Joseph had an opportunity to bring his family together and spare their lives in a time of famine. But he gathered his family in an unusual way.

The brothers, though innocent, were accused of stealing from Pharaoh.

Why would Joseph accuse his brothers of a crime they didn’t commit? Didn’t he already know what it felt like to be taken advantage of? Didn’t he know two wrongs don’t make a right? Why would a God-fearing man use his power and authority to put an innocent man in jail?

Joseph worked out a complex scheme to make them bring their youngest brother and their father to him, knowing they’d forgive him once they heard all the facts. Because he knew his brothers and his father, he knew he couldn’t just say hello and ask them to relocate to be near him. Their history together had made it plain that in order to fix their relationships, some complicated maneuvering had to be done. Nothing had been simple in that family.

Joseph had to gain their respect, prove his authority, and show his love. Funny how God works to show us that we are forgiven – even through unusual circumstances.

Read more about this in the book of Genesis as you seek God with me.

A Reunion of Children

Genesis 45:6-7

For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

In Genesis, chapters 37 through 50, Joseph’s story is told. In chapter 42, Joseph recognized his brothers after a long absence. He remembered his dreams about them and questioned them, using an interpreter so they wouldn’t know he could understand them. He sent them after the youngest brother who had stayed at home with their father. When all the brothers had come back, Joseph revealed himself to them and wept over seeing his youngest brother again.

After telling his brothers about the famine that should last a few more years, he sent them to get their father and bring him so no one in his family should be destitute. Joseph’s father, Jacob (aka Israel), was shocked that Joseph wasn’t dead as his brothers had claimed many years ago. The brothers told their father all that had happened and he answered, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

When all his family arrived, Joseph helped them get settled in Goshen where they could tend their sheep. Jacob (Israel) was 130 years old when he moved to Goshen. He lived seventeen more years there knowing God had taken care of all his sons, even the one he thought had died. Joseph was glad God brought his brothers to him to begin this last season with family.

Is there someone you want to see again before you die? Is there something you must do or say while you still have the chance?

The days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are opportunities for many people to reconnect with loved ones they haven’t seen in a long time. This is the season to say or do what you’ve been meaning to say or do. If you haven’t had the chance to see that older relative, make time for that in your busy holiday schedule.

Joseph had another seventeen years with his father. You might not have that long. Give love today while you have the chance.

Devoted Builders

Genesis 6:8

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah was devoted to building the ark. It was his getaway vehicle in an evil world. God gave Noah clear instructions for building the ark, using cypress wood and pitch. The ark had to be big enough for all the animals and all the food they would need for an unusually long rainy season.

Because he was righteous and diligent, Noah not only got a chance to ride in the biggest boat he’d ever seen, but he also got to make it. A lot of guys these days spend hours in the garage, working on projects. Noah’s garage wasn’t nearly big enough for his project. God told him, “You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”

I read that section of the chapter and immediately compared my packing list for our family vacations. If we go camping, we generally don’t take a TV or computer. We have to amuse ourselves with checking out our surroundings. My guess is that Noah and his family probably made pets of some of the animals. They didn’t have any board games for family night. They didn’t have time for it since they spent much of their time shoveling and cleaning the animal pens. I can’t imagine what they used as a garden hose to wash down the place and keep it smelling livable.

I think God took all that into consideration and gave Noah a lot more instruction than is in the Bible. Noah was successful at his enormous carpentry project because, as it says in Genesis 6:22, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” His obedience paid off in a big way.

It’s easy to see that Noah was a devoted builder, but it’s also easy to see that God is a devoted builder.

God has been devoted to building up his people for a long time. He’s dedicated beyond measure. He’s been patient with our weaknesses. He’s brought us back from our distractions. And he won’t stop until he sees the finished product he’s been building toward.

God cares deeply about us, and is probably waiting for us to turn to him with a heart like Noah’s and start doing everything “just as God commanded.”

Getting Into Trouble

Genesis 37:5

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

Joseph and his brothers never would have thought their future would turn out the way it did. It seemed Joseph was always getting into trouble, so it was surprising that he ended up being liked by so many.

From reading about Joseph, you might think that he was a power-hungry schemer. The dreams he told to his brothers only brought trouble on himself. He was sold into slavery, but rose in power until he was the second in command. However, the fact that he obtained positions of power didn’t speak negatively about him.

The good thing about Joseph was that he always believed God.

His rise to power was due to his consistent dedication to honoring and obeying God. His stubborn faith in God helped him receive positions of power to minister to those in need.

He was an example of how God can use someone to help large populations by giving him the power to make decisions that affect many.

The Sword of an Angel

Genesis 3:24

After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

After Adam and Even were banished from the Garden of Eden, God assigned an angel to the pathway to keep them from entering again. The angel who kept Adam and Eve out of the Garden had a flashing sword. Even though I wasn’t there, I can imagine that it was a scary sight. I figure the angel probably did his job pretty well. We don’t ever hear about Adam or Eve trying to have a sword fight with that angel.

Can you think of times in your life that it felt like God had placed that angel in front of something that tempted you? I think God gives us opportunities to walk past temptations without putting an angel there to bar the door. But I also think that there are times when he makes sure we aren’t able to fall to a certain temptation.

As a parent, I recognize that my kids can handle a certain amount of temptation successfully. If the temptation is too great, I usually step in and help remove the source of the problem.

God doesn’t set us up for failure. He wants us to succeed in everything we do.

Like it says in Deuteronomy 30:9 “Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.” And in Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

He wants us to prosper, but God also knows that we humans can be a bit stubborn sometimes. I know there have been times in my life where I felt drawn to do something, but I knew I shouldn’t, but I also knew I was going to do it anyway. See? He had a good reason for the scary angel with the sword.

Most of our temptations are things that we can walk past, but we don’t. We have the ability to control ourselves and turn away, but we want God to put an angel with a flaming sword in front of all our temptations.

He’s not going to do that.

He holds out his hand and offers his strength. In our relationship with God, we can overcome any temptation, not by avoiding a sword-wielding angel, but by submitting to God. According to James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

If anything in your life seems overwhelmingly tempting and you can see yourself being sucked into the black hole of temptation, fall to your knees at that moment and submit to God. He lifts up those who are down. He strengthens the weak. With your hand in God’s, you will be able to rise up and resist the devil.

Then watch the devil flee.

Noah's Ark

Genesis 6:22

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

This month, I’m focused on Big Things on my Blogging Domino blog. I posted a review of the 1956 film The Ten Commandments, and later this month, I’ll post a review of another Charlton Heston film, Ben-Hur. These were the record-breaking, outstanding films of their day. They’re still classics.

I’ve carried that theme over to this devotional blog with my earlier post about the Red Sea and today’s post about Noah’s Ark. I think the "big" theme fits with this blog about seeking God because sometimes as we seek an intimate connection with God, we have to stop ourselves from thinking small. We’re not looking to connect with a tiny or weak God. He is definitely big.

When God asked Noah to build the ark, it was no small task. It took a while to complete, and I’m sure he had to battle all the voices of his “friends” who told him he was crazy for attempting such a ridiculous feat. It took a big God to come up with such an unusual plan.

You and I get into situations where we need big ideas from a big God. More than likely, God won’t tell us to build another ark, but he may give us unexpected instruction. He’s good at that.

The Bible is full of examples of people following God’s instruction to do something unusual. Naaman was healed by obeying unexpected orders. Peter paid taxes by getting money out of a fish’s mouth. Not only does God take care of us, but he also shows his love in creative ways.

If God speaks to you unexpectedly, don’t hesitate. Obey. And watch for something big to happen.

Deceitful Gain

Genesis 27:35

But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.”

When you think of the story of Jacob and Esau, the word “deceit” comes to mind. Although he was helped by his mother, Jacob was the one who deceived his father into giving him his brother’s blessing.

Jacob received the blessing, but did he walk in honor? No. He had to run away to protect himself from Esau who was consoling himself with the thought of killing him.

Many people are able to get what they want – one way or another – like Jacob. Anyone can stoop to being a deceitful scammer, but I don’t think it feels as good as getting what you’ve earned and walking in honor.

Why flee when you can live free?

It’s hard to forgive those who take things by deception. The good news, however, is that Esau was able to forgive Jacob. Genesis 33:4 tells us that the brothers saw each other again after years of separation – and Esau didn’t kill him as Jacob had feared.

Relationship Renovation

Genesis 48:11

Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."

I missed out on going to my family reunion this year. I enjoy going as often as possible so I can visit with aunts and uncles and cousins. I love seeing how the young ones are now so tall.

My kids also enjoy seeing my brother’s kids every year. They used to be a lot closer in size than they are now, but they still party like there’s no tomorrow when they see each other. Their love for each other makes even the adults smile.

I imagine there will be great rejoicing in Heaven when we return to those friends and relatives who have gone before us. Won’t that be an exciting time (– among many exciting moments in Heaven)?

I love it when God brings loved ones back together again. Or when he restores friendships or family relationships between those who allowed something to come between them.

Mercy and Healing

Genesis 20:16-18

To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

There are those to whom pregnancy comes easy. And then there are those who pray for a child. Those who are praying God would open their womb and help them conceive a child can read about Sarah and Hannah. God gives us examples of women who stubbornly loved God and stubbornly asked Him for help with a pregnancy.

I know children are a blessing. They’re a lot of work, but they’re also a blessing.

Some women find it unfair that those who don’t want kids get pregnant easily. And those who want kids, but can’t have any, must learn to not take offense when someone else gets pregnant.

As much as God loves the sound of children’s laughter, He also cherishes the hearts of the adults. No person is more important than another, regardless of age or even child-related cuteness.

God wants each of us to notice and accept Him. Even if we don’t get everything we want. We are to follow God’s guidance because His plan is better than ours.

In Genesis, God had to deal with the hearts of Abraham, Sarah, Abimelech, his wife, and his slave girls before the issue of child-bearing could be corrected.

My kids are old enough to take on a little more responsibility now. I give them tasks and expect them to obey. God does that with me, only I’m just as imperfect as my kids. Should I expect my kids to obey me to the letter when I don’t follow God perfectly?

Because our kids are a blessing, we should recognize that we’re here to be that kind of a blessing to our Heavenly Father. Because he gives us mercy, we should pay it forward to our kids.

Thank You, God, for healing us and showing us mercy.

Get Up

Genesis 3:8-11

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked?”

Haven’t we all taken the wrong advice, made the wrong choice, or listened to the wrong voices? If you’ve heard from God and you didn’t obey, understand this: God gives second chances.

Adam and Eve heard from God regularly. They had a regular appointment with Him in the garden. When He came for his expected appointment, Adam hid. That simple act let God know that something was wrong.

Instead of hiding when we mess up, we can communicate our failures to God. He understands and forgives.

Seeking God and finding Him isn’t hard. The fact that we’re so imperfect is what is hard to deal with. A lot of people try to do what is right. They figure out how to obey God, and then that sneaky snake whispers something to entice them away from what God has told them to do. They stumble. They feel so bad about stumbling that they stay down too long.

God says, “Get up.”

God will provide for you everything that you need. Everything. But you have to get up and walk with Him. He will lead you through doorways and lead you out of danger, but you have to do the walking.

You were created to do something that nobody else can do. Your life has purpose. God designed you with specific gifts and abilities so you can accomplish that purpose. Communicate with God and find out what that is. You have a job to do, but you can’t do it lying down. Give God your guilt, shame, bad memories, and pain. Let Him help you back up.

In your journey to a better relationship with God, you’re probably going to stumble. The key to the journey is to get back up and keep walking.