FEARS TURNED INTO BLESSING

Genesis 33:4 NLT Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

Yesterday we saw Jacob setting off on his life story, and today we see him returning home after 20 years, but he was afraid to meet his brother who he had cheated all those years before. He remembered Esau was out to get him the last time he’d seen him!

So he sent his wives and everything he owned on ahead, and stayed on his own in the camp. Sometimes we really need to get alone with God to deal with our issues!😊 We read how he wrestled with God all that night and wouldn’t let go till God blessed him. 

The next day he went out and met his brother Esau who amazingly welcomed him with open arms, and we realise all Jacob’s fears had been unnecessary! God had indeed gone ahead and smoothed the way for him, but Jacob had taken the time to bring all his fears to God to sort out first because he wanted God’s blessing!

When we get rid of the distractions then we can be honest with ourselves and God, and know His answers and blessings are on the way.😊 God is constantly reminding us He is going ahead of us, that He wants the best for us but we need to stay close to Him to hear His plans so we can take the next step knowing He’s got our back.

Let’s be encouraged by Jacob’s story to know God can turn our fears around even overnight and bring us into His blessing and whatever good plans He has for us. In Jesus name. Amen.

Isaiah 52:12 NLT … For the Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind. 

Isaiah 26:7 CEV Our Lord, you always do right, and you make the path smooth for those who obey you.

Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Unsplash

WHEN GOODBYE IS NECESSARY

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

When we say goodbye to loved ones who live abroad, it can be sad because we know we may not see them again physically for years, but we know goodbye is necessary.

But sometimes God wants us to say goodbye to things that pull us down, maybe goodbye to a job which has come to the end of its season or goodbye to habits that hold us back or hurt us. Perhaps we need to wave goodbye to the chocolate box we had for Christmas too!🤣

Jacob had to say goodbye to his mother after he cheated his brother out of his inheritance and it started him on a lifelong journey, discovering the faithfulness of his God. Goodbyes can be hard, but they are necessary for our growth, for God’s plans to unfold.

God always encourages us to be constantly reaching for the next step of faith. Car windscreens are big and wide for seeing the way ahead, whereas the rear view mirror is tiny by comparison because we’re not going that way! Similarly our future is far bigger than our past and God is saying it’s time to say goodbye to it, to let it go and don’t dwell on it. He has a new door for us to go through.

It’s interesting that Jacob only saw and heard the Lord speak to him when he left the familiar. When he set out the Lord appeared to him in a dream with a ladder that reached to heaven and encouraged him to know there was a great future ahead of him even though he’d messed up.

If God is calling you to say goodbye to something, then it’s for a good reason, it’s for your good, and He wants you to discover His faithfulness, so He can show you the way forward into your future. Amen.

Photo: Darsh Nishar on Unsplash