Hello there, friends!
You made it to Friday! As we near the end of Week 2, I want to encourage you with three simple words:
“But God knew…”
These words by Wendy Blight on page 37 of our 40 Days Study Guide pack a punch when we stop to consider their implications.
Here’s what I mean…
- Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but God knew how those very circumstances would one day allow him to bless, save and restore his family.
- The Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians for hundreds of years, but God knew that without it, they would have ultimately turned away from Him.
- Moses didn’t believe himself capable of following God’s call on his life, but God knew Moses wouldn’t have to rely on his own strength to get it done.
If we were to script our own lives, it’s doubtful we’d include times of struggle and heartache, times where nothing makes sense. I’m sure they felt the same. And yet for them, those times that felt most out-of-control were when God showed up the most and taught them who He was. He helped them understand that freedom has nothing to do with the state of our circumstances and everything to do with the state of our hearts.
Who are we to doubt He’ll do the same for us?
Today in our bookwork, we’ll continue where we left off with the Israelites’ story of freedom and read about the 10 Commandments given to them by God. Though the terms "commandment" and "freedom" seem to oppose one another, in this case, they actually go hand-in-hand. As we’ll see, God spoke each and every word of His commandments for the benefit and ultimate freedom of His children.
Today we’re reading:
God’s ways don’t always make sense to us, but never doubt this: He knows. He knows what you’re going through, and He knows the good He’ll bring from it. We can be free from the need to worry and wonder, because as we’ve seen in this week’s study, He is in control, and He’s got it all figured out.
Stacy
Let’s Chat!
After going through this week of study, how would you define freedom? How has your view changed on the struggles we all face?