God meets us where we are – Bible Study

GOD MEETS US WHERE WE ARE

God doesn’t wait for us to have it all together. He meets us right where we are.

Whether you feel insignificant like David, hesitant like Gideon, burdened by past mistakes like Rahab, or just going about daily life like Lydia, Scripture shows us a God who pursues, redeems, and calls you in the middle of your reality. This study looks at people from all walks of life, people that are broken, overlooked, questioning, or quietly faithful. It also reminds us that no one is beyond God’s reach.

Through these powerful examples and encouraging promises, you’ll be invited to reflect on how God might be drawing near to you right now, and how you can respond in faith, even in small steps.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

David

God meets us in our insignificance David was just a young shepherd, overlooked by his own family, when God chose him to be king. Though others saw a boy, God saw a king.

1 Samuel 16:6-13 – “When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

Gideon

God meets us in our weakness Gideon is hiding in fear when God calls him a mighty warrior. Though he doubts, God patiently assures him that He will be with him.

Judges 6:11-16 – “Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Rahab
(Joshua 2:1-21)

God meets us in our past mistakes Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho, yet she chose to help the Israelite spies. Because of her faith, she and her family were saved, and she became part of the lineage of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:31 – “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”

Matthew 1:5-6 – “and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.”

The Woman at the Well
(John 4:7-30)

God meets us in our brokenness A Samaritan woman, rejected by society, meets Jesus while drawing water. He reveals her past but also offers her living water—eternal life.

John 4:7-8 – “A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.”

John 4:28-30 – “So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people,“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him.”

Zacchaeus

God meets us in our seeking, Zacchaeus, a tax collector despised by his people, climbs a tree just to see Jesus. Instead of rejecting him, Jesus calls him by name and dines at his house.

Luke 19:1-10 – “He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.  And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Lydia

God meets us in our daily work Lydia is simply going about her business as a merchant when Paul preaches the Gospel to her. She becomes one of the first believers in Europe.

Acts 16:13-15 – “And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.  And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.”

Acts 16:40 – “So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.”

Which of these people’s stories feels most like yours right now? Why?

GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES

God is Always With Us

Psalm 139:7-10 – “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”

Jesus Promises His Presence

Matthew 28:20 – “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God Works Through Our Ordinary Efforts

Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

How might God be using your current situation for His purposes?

STEPPING FORWARD IN FAITH: TRUSTING THAT GOD CAN USE YOU

You Are Created for a Purpose

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Faith Requires Action, Even When We Don’t See the Whole Picture

Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

God’s Power Works Through Our Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

God Uses Willing Hearts, Not Perfect People

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 – “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

What doubts do you have about God using you?

What is one small step you can take this week to step forward in faith?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.