Adam and Eve: Protection vs. Lack — Is This the Question?

 

Adam and Eve: Protection vs. Lack — Is This the Question?

Today, I sit and reflect on life’s detours and shut doors. For some reason, my thoughts go to Adam and Eve’s experiences in the Bible. Bear with me.

Why, God?!
I prayed.
I planned to do better in the next situation.
I told myself I would show up and be my best self—honestly and with no regret.
“I’ll, I’ll, I’ll…”

So why the rejection? It hit me hard and knocked the air and motivation out of me.  It brought with it a recession in my spirit. I became discouraged, disappointed, and distraught. I'm confused!

Where is God?!
I quoted Bible verses.
I had a dream that I believed was a sign of a good outcome.

Then…

Throughout the day, after I got real with myself—after reflecting on how often I’ve encouraged others while not being honest about how not okay I really felt about my situation —it hit me. Saying “It wasn’t God’s will” sounded good on the surface. But deep down, I wasn't okay. I was still wondering:

Why?
Why didn’t this work out? Isn’t that good?
The Word says it is good.
Are my intentions or motives wrong?
Is my ego tied to this particular outcome?
Would this situation or opportunity pull me away from God—or delay or interrupt my purpose, my reason for being in the land of the living? 

So many questions.

So, I move on to what I do have.  What I do remember.  That God is good.  He is not out to harm me.  He is love.  He is protection. So...where do I go from here?  What posture should I take?

Thankfulness. 
That word sits on my heart.
How I must still praise the Lord—now more than ever.

I realized I’ve been listening to the enemy’s voice… and worse, agreeing with it. Becoming my own adversary—like Job’s friends—accusing myself:

“I must’ve done something wrong.”
“God must be punishing me.”
“This must be payback for my past.”

Then…

I encouraged myself in the Lord.
I remembered what He says:

He forgives.
He forgets.
He loves me.
He died for me.
And He has no favorites.

Then…

I thought about the Garden of Eden—about Adam and Eve.
The apple Adam was instructed not to eat...

Symbolically, for me, it represents what not to ingest.
Things God told me to avoid—mindsets, fears, distractions.
Because when you ingest those things, your eyes are opened…
To things that cause distress.

I didn’t realize how spiritually covered and provided for that I have been over my life.
I had been living in God’s blessings—sometimes giving Him thanks, sometimes giving His credit to others. Shaking my head to the latter.

From my mother’s covering to the covering of my husband—both were divinely orchestrated by God. I lacked nothing.

But the bite of the apple—that moment of double-mindedness—shifted my perspectives on life.  Overwhelmed and no longer collected.  In pieces.

I no longer saw what I should’ve been thankful for or I'd conveniently forgotten them.

I “bit the apple,” and saw:
Nakedness.
Vulnerability.
Fear.
Anxiousness.

Where is the break through?
What will happen to me?
I’m without!
I will be without!
What did I do wrong?

I’m confused.
Tired.
Sad.
Angry.

I see… lack.

I ingested the apple, and it wasn’t good for my spirit.
It wasn’t nutritious—it was toxic.
It made me feel sick.
Like rottenness to the bones.

So now—it’s time to reel it back in.

Then…

Stop and Pray.
P-raise. R-epent. A-sk. Y-ield.

If God is good—and He is—then whatever the outcome, it is for my good.

So I thank God for being a good God.
I thank Him for covering me.
I choose to stay close to Him.

It’s already alright.

I thank Him for the past.
I thank Him for the present.
And I thank Him for the future.

My time is coming.
And like childbirth or a muscle being conditioned to be stronger — being stretched builds compacity. 
I may remember the pain...
But it will all fade in comparison to the outcome that follows.

Come on, Jesus…
My hope is in You.
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
I will wait on You.

🔎Time to Connect: 

What is your take?