Are We There Yet?

Read Genesis 33:12–17

Reflection

When you go on long road trips, there are lots of reasons to stop before you reach your destination – usually for things like food, petrol, and sleep. Jacob had many of these stops on his journey to receive God’s Promise. He wandered for a long time to avoid the wrath of his brother, he worked for his uncle for around 20 years for his wife Rachel, he stopped and wrestled with God on his journey back, and, now, he had to stay in one place for a while until his family and flock were ready to move on. They could seem like obstacles but, for every stop, there was something Jacob learned about himself and his God.

Our destination is the inheritance of Eternal Life that Jesus gave freely to us when He came to Earth, died for our sins, and rose again to defeat the grave. We all journey in different ways to live out this Story on Earth and to bring other people into the Family of God. As we live out our lives, sometimes we can wonder if we will ever "arrive".

You might feel like the ordinary things of life – your job, maintaining a home, working out or a short mission trip – are distractions from the "big thing" God is calling you to. Remind yourself that, like Jacob, each of these experiences is leading you closer to our God. Be grateful for the stops along the way because these are the times when your heart and mind are shaped towards the Promise of Home.

Consider and Pray

What important stop of the journey are you experiencing right now? Pray that God uses your current situation to prepare your heart, mind, and soul for His Greater Purpose in your life and the lives of others.