Read: Genesis 20-23
“…God is with you in everything you do.” -Genesis 21:22
That verse feels like an anchor as we move through these chapters. It’s a simple truth, but one that carries so much weight; God is with us in everything, even when the story feels complicated or heavy.
Genesis 22, in particular, is one of those passages that stops me in my tracks. Abraham is tested by God in a way that feels almost unbearable. As a mother, this passage hits especially hard. The idea of being asked to surrender your child, to trust God completely and obey Him no matter what, is overwhelming. Honestly, I don’t think I would have handled it as faithfully as Abraham did.
If I truly heard God give me those instructions, I think I would convince myself that I misheard Him, or that He must have meant something else. That kind of faith feels so far beyond my own. I love God and I trust Him, but when this story is put into perspective like this, it’s really hard. It’s a difficult lesson, but such an important one to sit with.
Two major truths stand out to me in this passage. The first is that God is always with us. The second is that God will provide. We see these themes repeated throughout the Bible again and again. In difficult times, God does not abandon us. Even when bad things happen, because of Satan and the sin that exists in the world, God is still present. He can carry us through those moments and even use them for His glory. Of course, that’s much easier to say than to remember and practice when we’re in the middle of anger, heartbreak, frustration, uncertainty, etcetera. Those moments can cloud our perspective so quickly. Still, God loves us deeply, and He does not give us more than we can handle. My mom just shared a video with me that said: “When you get what you want that’s God’s direction and when you don’t get what you want that’s God’s protection.” As Christians, we can do our best to make lemonade from lemons; to be a light, even when life seems dark.
I’m always in awe when I hear about people who endure immense suffering and still hold firmly to their faith. A recent example is Erika Kirk. She went through so much and yet continues to love God. That kind of faith is inspiring.
My prayer is that my faith, and my family’s faith, would be that strong in both the good times and the difficult ones. One day, everything that we endure will be turned to glory, when we see our Father in heaven and are finally welcomed home.
“God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Revelation 21:3-4
Discussion Questions
- How does Genesis 21:22 (“… God is with you in everything you do”) encourage you in your current season?
- How does the story of Isaac challenge or strengthen your understanding of obedience?
- How can stories of faith and obedience, both in Scripture and the world today, encourage you to keep trusting God?
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A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest
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