You Are Chosen
It was great to be together on Sunday to worship God and reflect on our relationship with Him together. We focused on 1 Samuel 1 and the life of Hannah, looking at how her story and God’s story intersect. Hannah was not just an end to a means for God’s story. Her unmet longing and desire mattered to God. And yet, her struggle was also used by God to shape the future nation of Israel.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve reminded ourselves again and again: our stories matter to God. There’s a shape to each of our lives that brings Him glory. Ephesians 1:4 tells us God chose us before the foundation of the world. I hope you can sit with that for a minute. When God laid the foundations of the world, YOU were chosen with the intention to give Him glory. Like Hannah, every intimate detail of your life matters to God.
We ended Sunday with this beautiful benediction and promise from Isaiah 46:3-4:
“Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been carried by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will carry you!
I have done it, and I will bear you;
And I will carry you and I will save you.”
God carried you from the moment you took your first breath until now. In fact, did you know that rabbis believe that we actually say God’s name with our first and last breath? In Hebrew God’s name is YHWH. We’ve added vowels for the more familiar Yahweh. These letters represent breathing sounds: YH (inhale), WH (exhale). So from your first breath until your last you will have the name of God on your lips.
Whatever you’re walking through, trust that God is carrying your story with love and purpose. God’s intention is to fulfill his purpose through us. Like Hannah, we can’t derail His plans—but we can become willing participants by surrendering our will to His. And in that surrender, we find peace, knowing that in all things, God works for good (Romans 8:28).
If you are a woman and have enjoyed reflecting on the life of a woman in Scripture, I encourage you to come to our Women’s Day of Renewal on Saturday, May 17th. We will look at more of the women of the Bible and how their stories intersect with God’s story. We will have time to reflect individually with God, as well as share our stories with each other. It’s a time to be refreshed—and you’re welcome to bring a friend! You can register here.
Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!
With love,
JoAnna