The Do-Over

Howdy friends! Quick post tonight. Usually the Lord gives me a word or two during the week. The words usually come after a bout of anxiety and are the calm after the storm- the balm my soul needed. But this week, rather than words, the Lord gave me memories.

For some reason, I could picture so clearly a variety of memories that I hadn't thought about in a long time.

These came with peace. It was if the Lord was reminding me of my true identity and not the one I’ve felt stuck in these past couple of months.

At the same time, I’ve been telling the Lord that though these memories signified “the good old days,” I still remember struggling with a variety of things, and there are things that I would go back and do differently.

I’ve heard him saying “then do them differently.”

Since then, my eyes have been opened to the fact that my life seems to be in a bit of a repeat in some ways. Some past struggles, as well as many great things, seem to have come back around.

As I meet all these things for what feels like the second time, the Lord has been challenging me to take His hand and do the second round with Him.

What does this look like practically?

• Completing my assignments not out of fear of not measuring up but from a place of self respect, confidence, and excitement to overcome challenges

• Nourishing my body rather than restricting food to numb insecurities

• Inviting joy into the everyday hard tasks

• Listening to those that love me rather thinking I know best

• Not making what I struggle with my identity

• Not allowing anything to become a wedge between me and God

• Leaning into the fact that God is just as present today as He was in my greatest memories and moments with Him.

This week I also re-read the story of Jacob wrestling with God. It meant a lot of things to me that I’m still processing.

In the story, Jacob was left with a limp. I find it interesting that defeat is what saved him. I know this has major implications for my life, and I look forward to diving deeper into this story and sharing what I learn from it in the coming weeks.

From “Got Questions”

In the end, Jacob does what we all must do. In his weakness and fear, he faces God. Jacob was separated from all others and from his worldly possessions, and that’s when he grapples all night for what is truly important. It was an exhausting struggle that left him crippled. It was only after he wrestled with God and ceased his struggling, realizing that he could not go on without Him, that he received God’s blessing.

Full article: Jacob-wrestling-with-God.html

I challenge you to read Genesis 22: 22-32 this week! Lmk what you learn!

Make this week a good one :)

• Bailee <3