Session 15

Who to call when you hit rock bottom

From Genesis: A 7-Week Devotional

Here we are again. We are fighting the same sin again feeling so beat up, so unworthy. We have tried and tried; we have prayed and prayed, yet this sin keeps rearing its ugly head.

That was Abraham’s story in Genesis 20. Earlier in Genesis, Abraham lied that his wife Sarah was his sister. Here we are, after all Abraham has experienced with God, and he has fallen into the trap again.

Abraham let fear get the better of him when he and Sarah lied about not being married.

However, God protected and forgave Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelek. He prevented Abimelek from committing adultery with Sarah and showed him how to save his life (Genesis 20:6-7). And, He kept Sarah from getting pregnant, which would have altered the covenant He made with Abraham in Genesis 15.

Instead of disowning Abraham, God worked through him and gave him the opportunity to make things right with Abimelek (Genesis 20:7-18). “...Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife, and his female slaves so they could have children again…” (Genesis 20:17-18).

God is more merciful than we often realize. 

God does the same for us. Even though we sin again and again, God continues to protect us. He is more merciful than we often realize. Whether we’re unknowingly making mistakes, like Abimelek, or clearly sinning against God, like Abraham, we don’t experience the consequences we could have.

When we don’t experience the punishment we deserve from God, we are experiencing His mercy. Even at our rock-bottom moment, God intervenes and keeps us from making even bigger messes out of our lives.

Reflect:

• What sin do you keep coming back to like Abraham? Why?
• What is one way you have seen God’s mercy intervene in your life?
• Do you thank God for His mercy? Take time today to thank Him for what He has protected you from, and ask Him to help you walk away from that sin.

If you are struggling with a sin, or you feel like you are at your rock-bottom moment, and you would like to talk to someone, you can do that here.