Jesusluvsall's Blog

There are times we feel lost in life or perhaps bogged down in life. Imagine wandering around a country not knowing where you are supposed to go.

Abram had left his home to follow God’s call. In the midst of his wandering and when Abram was already 99 years old, one day God spoke to him saying in Genesis 17,

 “I am God Almighty walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

El was the common name for God and would be combined with another word to express one of the characteristics of God. El- God, Shaddai- Almighty or All Sufficient. God revealed himself to Abraham as the Almighty, the one who has all power. It is from God’s own person that God promises to bless Abraham with many descendants.

God also changed Abram’s name to Abraham.

What does that have to do with us living in the 21st century?

Ever struggle with anything? depression? illness? family turmoil? victim of abuse?

Ever struggle with the past? Memories of past failures or memories of being hurt haunt you at times?

One day Jesus gave an invitation to all people. In Matthew 11 we read:

“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus is El Shaddai who came to us born on the first Christmas. He grew to be a man and extended the invitation to all  who are weary and burdened in life with the promise of giving us rest for our souls. The invitation  is based on 2 things- He has all power and He is gentle of heart.

When El Shaddai, God Almighty, comes to us and speaks to us, there is a promise given if we will receive him and follow him and El Shaddai keeps his promises.

Jesus still extends the invitation to come to him. Basically saying, Come to me all who struggle with depression, anxiety, divorce, past abuse, financial problems, family problems, displacement, loneliness, illness, the list could go on and one, with the promise of giving rest for our souls.

Just like God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, he will bring change into our lives. He doesn’t hold the past against us. He frees us from it.

Michael Card recorded my favorite version of El Shaddai. I wanted to share it with you. Perhaps as you listen, you can think of the invitation from Jesus to come to him.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.