I say, God says

From an email being circulated...

It's impossible...

All things are possible. Love, God

He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."
Luke 18:27

I'm too tired...

I will give you rest. Love, God

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28-30

Nobody really loves me...

I love you. Love, God

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life
John 3:16

I can't go on...

My grace is sufficient. Love, God

Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.
II Corinthians 12:9

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.
Psalm 91:15

I can't figure things out...

I will direct your steps. Love, God

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I can't do it...

You can do all things. Love, God

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Philippians 4:13

I'm not able...

I am able. Love, God

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
II Corinthians 9:8

It's not worth it...

It will be worth it. Love, God

And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Roman 8:28

I can't forgive myself...

I forgive you. Love, God

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.
I John 1:9

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

I can't manage...

I will supply all your needs. Love, God

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

I'm afraid...

I have not given you a spirit of fear. Love, God

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
II Timothy 1:7

I'm always worried and frustrated...

Cast all your cares on ME. Love, God

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.
I Peter 5:7

I'm not smart enough...

I give you wisdom. Love, God

God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.
I Corinthians 1:30

I feel all alone...

I will never leave you or forsake you. Love, God

Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

---

You are who you say you are.
I am who you say I am.
You can do what you say you can do.
I can do all things through Christ.
Your word is alive and active in me.

~ Beth Moore

Spendthrift son

The story of the prodigal son appears to be about a son obtaining his inheritance early, somehow, and then wasting it quickly and unwisely. Destitute, he returns to his father to ask for a servant's job and is welcomed as family.

At first glance, I don't find "disobedience" in this story. I see a son taking off and wasting his life. I don't see it as something the son did directly against his father, like his father laying out some rules and the son breaking those rules. There is a lot of waste and pursuit of personal pleasure. I can see how the son's choices probably conflicted with all the wisdom his father tried to instill in him. But what if the son had taken the inheritance and worked it up into a larger set of assets? Would that eliminate the need for this story?

When he returned to his father to beg for help and ask for a role as a servant, he didn't have any successes to report; he could offer no indications of changes in his life that had put him on the right path again. (If he was just looking for a job, I suppose he could've gone to anyone and begged for a role as servant. Perhaps he had a bit of hope in approaching his father, banking on his father caving under a bit of compassion.) That kind of thinking can get in the way of my approaching God...wanting to have some progress to show before I can talk to him.

His father interrupts this thought process, this incorrect thinking of "master/servant" relationship by rushing out and embracing the son and reinforcing that he's still family.

This is a story of parent/child relationship, not master/servant (and Jesus did tell other stories that were clearly about servant/master relationships). I wonder if the original problem was with the spendthrift son wanting to leave the father, wanting to break out on his own and abandon the family connection. The presence of another son (with his own problems) and the father's delight in welcoming back the prodigal son does suggest to me that the original intent was for the (extended) family to remain together, for the son to have never left.

This story came to mind last week in my distance from God as I reflected on my disobedience. In my low state, the phrase "I'm your son" leaked out of my mouth. It wasn't something I said to remind or appeal to God, as if to incur his compassion. It was a reminder to myself, as if God had just asked, "Who are you, again?" waiting for me to remember that I'm his son, to see myself as he does. He didn't want me to run off and disconnect from him (irregardless of whether I work up my assets to my success or end up in poverty). Then and now, I'm his son, and he wants me to remember that.