Sometimes the Bible gives us stories that feel uncomfortably close to home. Next Sunday we’ll meet Jacob—grasping, scheming, stumbling his way through a family web of deceit and disappointment. His mother Rebekah helps him trick his father Isaac, stealing the blessing meant for his brother Esau. It’s a mess of manipulation, fear, and fractured trust. 

And yet—in the middle of the chaos—God shows up. Jacob flees into the wilderness. At rock-bottom (literally with a stone for a pillow), he dreams of a ladder stretching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. When he wakes, he declares: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 

This is the heart of our theme: Rooted in Grace, Moved by Love. Jacob doesn’t earn God’s presence. He doesn’t deserve it. But grace isn’t about deserving—it’s about God’s stubborn faithfulness to remain with us, even when we stumble. 

In our own time of upheaval and division—when the ground feels like it’s shifting beneath us—we might find ourselves asking: Who can we trust? What will the future hold? Jacob’s story reminds us that even in the most uncertain places, God plants a ladder of connection. Heaven touches earth. Love insists on being present. 

Maybe you’ve walked through seasons where God felt far away—times of spiritual distance or deconstruction. I have too. Those seasons can be unsettling, but they also push us to examine our values, ask new questions, and look for God in unexpected ways. And the promise holds: God is always with us, even when we don’t recognize it right away. 

As we live through this season of transition, we can lean on this truth: God’s blessing isn’t reserved for perfect people or perfect plans. God roots us in grace right where we are and moves us in love toward the future already being prepared. 

This week, I invite you to notice the “ladders” God sets before you—the small but holy connections that remind you you’re not alone. Like Jacob, may we wake to discover that God is already here, and always will be. 

 

Peace, 
Pastor Katie 

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