Eve! She might seem an unusual choice for our #PrayBoldGirl series. However, we can learn a lot from her about how we should pray, especially when we’re living with the consequences of our mistakes.
I kinda feel sorry for the gal. She often gets blamed for our current circumstances. If only she hadn’t eaten from the tree!
Yet, Eve is also deserving of compassion. “Really!?” You might think.
Don’t we all want to be shown some leniency when we mess up?
And that’s exactly what the Creator did. He showed grace by making garments of animal skins for Adam and Eve who now, ashamed, realized they were naked.
God’s mercy was present right from the beginning of time.
The Creator banned them from the Garden, for their own good, so they would not be tempted to eat from the Tree of Life and so cement their sinful state forever.
However, Adam and Eve’s actions also led to God delivering consequences. One of which many of us women experience: I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Consequences! I’m not a fan of that word. I’ve often heard it said we’re forgiven, but we “still have to live with the consequences.”
It might be true, but scripture has a much more encouraging message and I prefer to dwell on that.
Even though the consequences of Eve’s actions are long lasting, hope conquers.
It becomes apparent when having a baby.
Two weeks overdue, the doctor broke my waters. She did warn me the contractions would be strong, but I was not prepared for pain. I hit the ceiling. Yet, through the agony came overwhelming joy. I held the miracle of life in my arms.
In those dark and lonely moments after being thrown out of the garden and out of God’s presence, I’m sure Eve pondered the words spoken by God to her, Adam, and the serpent.
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman…”
Even so, as her baby kicked inside her, Eve knew hope lie within.
“…and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
As Eve screamed through the birth pains of her first child, with it came not only the wonder of bringing into the world the first newborn human being, but a far greater hope for her and all humanity.
You see, even if Eve didn’t really form a prayer as we know it with an “Amen,” her words were an expression of thanks directed to Jehovah.
“With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man,” she said.
God the Creator masterminded human conception, but more than that…
Eve’s son might not be the Redeemer of humankind, but the path to redemption had begun.
Eve knew the birth of her son was the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise that a Savior would overcome and crush the enemy completely.
This was the beginning of God’s revelation—of God’s grace. Eventually, God’s own Son would come as a man and make everything right.
If, in your circumstances, you feel burdened with the consequences of your wrongdoing, remember to be like Eve. Look for the hope, look for grace, thank God for his mercy and his plan to make everything new again.
Linking up with Holly Barrett at #TestimonyTuesday and Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart