But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)
Recently, I was reading through the story of Abraham and Sarah, specifically around God promising Abraham a multitude of descendants starting in Genesis 15. God promised Abram he would have descendants. Sarai tried to work this out on her own by giving Hagar to Abram to have children. Hagar gets pregnant and starts treating Sarai with disrespect. Sarai blames Abram. Abram tells Sarai to solve her own problems and doesn’t lead the family. Sarai is abusive to Hagar. Hagar runs away.
All of this chaos and all of this messiness caused by the actions and behaviors of God’s people. What struck me as I read though this was not so much what they were doing but what God didn’t do.
God didn’t tell them they messed up. He didn’t make them feel less than (they were actually doing that fine on their own.) He didn’t throw his hands up in disgust and walk away. He stayed.
He stayed. He let the consequences of their bad decisions play out and he showed up in the mess they had created.
So often we think we have to have all the answers. We think we have to present a picture perfect person to God so he can work in us and we can do what we are called to do. But that is not true. All we have to do is come as we are (messiness and all) and give God a heart that is willing. That’s it. Be willing.
It’s so simple yet we make it so complicated. And sadly, when we stay away because we don’t think we are good enough, only Satan wins. God’s message is always love and mercy. We are already given life by the grace so freely offered to all mankind from the beginning until Jesus comes. What’s preventing you from coming to Jesus now? Stop listening to the lies. Jesus has got you covered.