Real Life by Peggi Tustan

Welcome to Real Life . When we run and hide, there is someone who cares enough to come looking for us. My keyboard must be broken. I keep hitting the escape key—but I’m still here. –Anonymous When life overwhelms us—when we’re hurt, confused, and troubled—we often run. We try to escape. We stop answering the phone. We binge Netflix. We open the fridge. We uncork the bottle. No matter where we hide, someone sees us. No matter where we run, someone comes looking for us. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find one lost sheep. Throughout the Holy Script, God reveals this aspect of his character. In Genesis, before the law and the prophets, he seeks a young runaway. Her story begins with a promise God made to Abram (before renaming him Abraham). “Look at the stars. Can you count them? So shall your offspring be.” [1] One issue mocks the fulfillment of this promise. Abram’s wife Sarai [2] is barren. The pain of infertility cuts deep. She offers Abram Plan B: bear childre...

Welcome to Real Life . Our culture prizes outward beauty. God prizes inward beauty. An ugly soul can hide from most, but never from God. “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b He began humbly enough. But, it wasn’t long before Israel’s first king grew proud and arrogant and directly disobeyed God. When Saul rejected God’s authority, God rejected him as king. Therefore, the Lord sent his prophet to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse in Bethlehem. Jesse paraded seven sons before the prophet Samuel. But, God chose none of them. “Are these all the sons you have?” Samuel asked. “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep,” Jesse replied. Then, he summoned his youngest son. David came in directly from the fields, no time to wash or change clothes. “Rise and anoint him; he is the one,” the Lord told Samuel. As youngest, not even David’s father...