My Second Choice

I try to convince myself that they are now number 1.

Genesis 4:17-26

Reference: Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” (‭Genesis‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬ NIV)

Explore: I like to take time choosing my menu item when I go out for a meal. I look at all the options and weigh up all the taste combinations the menu presents.

There’s nothing more disappointing than choosing the perfect meal only to be informed by the waiter that it’s no longer available. I then have to go through the whole menu again, comparing the meals I had previously rejected and trying to convince myself that they are now number 1.

On one occasion that this happened I ended up choosing something I wouldn’t usually order and discovered that I loved it! Sure, it wasn’t the original meal I thought I was going to eat, but it also gave me much satisfaction.

Application: We all know we can’t always get everything we want in life all the time. And sometimes things are taken from us before we are ready.

A menu item is no great catastrophe, but there are times when the things we lose are truly significant.
There is nothing that can replace a loved one. And it takes time to heal once they have departed.

However, God does not leave us bereft forever. There are times when the hole left in our lives is filled by something or someone we least expect.

Adam and Eve lost a son, a grief no parent wants to bear. But God did not stop giving to them.

Just as He will not leave us in our grief either. When our lives are left so hollow from loss, may we be able to see the hope in the future that God will draw near to us again.

Prayer: Lord, grief can be so all consuming that it’s hard to see beyond it. May we lift our eyes to You and remember Your faithfulness. Amen.

What grief have you had to bear?

food, Genesis, grief, loss