When God’s Blessing Looks Like More of Himself

Catherine Rackley
5 days ago
3 min read

Life has a way of chewing us up and spitting us out. We tell ourselves that if we're "living Christ-like," then surely God will pat us on the back and keep the hard things at bay. Lord, we'll gladly take Your blessings...but could You leave the suffering at the door? If we take an honest moment to self-reflect, that's often the silent expectation of our hearts.

We're quick to extend Southern hospitality when it comes to God's blessings. We'll fling open the front door for comfort, provision, and answered prayers. But what if His greatest blessing comes in the form of more of Himself? What if to truly know Him really is to love Him? And what if the only way to seek Him with our whole hearts is first to recognize how desperately we need Him?

In my first book, Tear-Watered Blooms, I shared how suffering taught me the unexpected gift of dependence on God. I thought I had begun to understand that lesson. But as I wrote Trustworthy, I realized the Lord was inviting me deeper still.

I began writing Trustworthy during a season when I desperately needed to see the Lord. A series of heartbreaks unfolded one after another, and by the third or fourth disappointment, I was emotionally depleted and spiritually confused.

Each heartbreak carried a similar theme: I believed I was walking in obedience to the Lord, only to have another door slam shut in front of me.

It began when we tried to bring our grown heart-daughter, Gemma, from Nigeria to the United States for college. After three attempts, her student visa was denied again and again. I truly believed the Lord had led us to pursue college for her here, so I couldn't understand why He allowed that door to remain closed. Even now, I don't know His reason.

Our second adoption journey began in South Africa in 2019. Then COVID rerouted us to Colombia. After four years of waiting, we allowed our paperwork to expire because we believed the Lord was leading us to move to Zambia to serve vulnerable children instead. We made preparations for a three-year commitment, but then that door unexpectedly closed too.

During that same season, painful situations arose within the church we had attended for years. We tried to do what we believed was right, yet we walked away feeling deeply misunderstood.

At that point, my prayer became very simple: "Lord, I just need to see You." And Trustworthy was born out of that prayer.

Each week of the devotional explores a different attribute of God while keeping Scripture at the center. It includes a full year of devotions, with two catch-up days built into every week. If you’re anything like me, I love a catch-up day. (wink)

My deepest prayer is that the pages of Trustworthy would stir your affection for Christ.

Writing this devotional changed me.

God truly is our portion.

He's like a diamond. Every angle from which we behold Him only makes every other facet shine more brilliantly.

Perhaps the greatest lesson the Lord taught me through writing this devotional is this: We are certainly called to good works as His disciples, but before we are ever called to do for Him, we are called to be with Him.

There were countless moments when I sensed Him gently whispering to my heart, "Catherine, stop constantly trying to do for Me. Just come and enjoy Me."

That invitation changed me.

My prayer is that Trustworthy helps you enjoy Him more deeply too.

Because to know Him truly is to love Him.