What Rebekah’s story teaches us about impatience, control, and trusting God’s timing.
When you start strong but lose yourself along the way, it can be hard to admit how far you’ve drifted.
You might look back and wonder, “How did I get here?”
Maybe you started a new season full of faith and excitement.
You trusted God.
You stepped out in obedience.
You believed He had a plan.
But somewhere along the way, life became complicated. Fear crept in. Waiting felt longer than expected.
You began relying more on your own understanding than on God’s direction.
If you’ve been one to start strong but lose yourself because life became overwhelming, you’re not alone.
Rebekah’s story reminds us that even people who begin with great faith can struggle to trust God when His timing doesn’t match their expectations.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV)
Rebekah Didn’t Start Here
When we first meet Rebekah in Genesis 24, she demonstrates remarkable kindness, generosity, and courage.
She willingly offers water not only to Abraham’s servant but also to his camels—a task that required significant effort.
Then she makes another incredible decision.
She leaves everything familiar to follow God’s leading into a future she cannot see.
That’s faith.
Rebekah didn’t begin as someone trying to control everything.
She began as someone willing to trust.
When Waiting Changes Us
Years later, God’s promise still hadn’t unfolded the way Rebekah expected.
Although God had revealed that the older son would serve the younger, she eventually took matters into her own hands.
Instead of trusting God to fulfill His promise, she created a plan.
She encouraged Jacob to deceive Isaac so the blessing would come through manipulation instead of God’s timing.
Her intentions may have seemed reasonable.
She believed she was helping God.
But good intentions don’t always produce godly actions.
Sometimes our greatest temptation isn’t giving up on God.
It’s trying to do His job for Him.
Signs You May Be Losing Yourself
Sometimes you start strong but lose yourself while trying to control what God asked you to trust Him with.
Losing yourself spiritually usually doesn’t happen overnight.
It often happens one small compromise at a time.
You may notice it when:
- fear begins making your decisions
- waiting becomes frustrating instead of refining
- control feels safer than surrender
- anxiety replaces peace
- you stop asking God what He wants and start telling Him what you’re going to do
These moments don’t mean you’ve failed.
They simply remind us that we need to return to the One who never lost sight of us.
How to Find Your Way Back
1. Admit where you’ve been relying on yourself.
God isn’t looking for perfection.
He’s looking for honesty.
2. Release the need to control every outcome.
Not every unanswered question needs your solution.
Sometimes it needs your trust.
3. Remember God’s promises don’t depend on your performance.
God is faithful even when we aren’t.
His plans are not fragile.
They don’t depend on our ability to make everything happen.
4. Return to simple obedience.
Instead of trying to solve tomorrow, ask yourself:
“What is God asking me to do today?”
Faith grows one obedient step at a time.
When you start strong but lose yourself, the answer isn’t striving harder—it’s returning to the God who has never stopped pursuing you.
A Gentle Reminder
Many of us have moments when we begin with trust but drift toward control.
The beautiful part of Rebekah’s story isn’t that she was perfect.
It’s that her story reminds us of our own.
God doesn’t stop loving us because we’ve taken a detour. He patiently invites us back to trust Him again.
No matter how far you feel you’ve wandered, God is still able to redirect your steps.
Even if you start strong but lose yourself along the way, God is able to redirect your steps and complete the work He began in you.
Prayer
Father,
Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to take control instead of trusting You.
Help me release my need to have all the answers.
Teach me to wait with confidence, obey with humility, and trust Your timing even when I don’t understand it.
Thank You for Your patience, Your grace, and Your faithfulness.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Final Reflection
Starting strong is wonderful.
But finishing well comes from continually returning to God whenever we lose our way.
You don’t have to stay stuck in fear, striving, or control.
God is still directing the lives of those who choose to trust Him.
Recommended Resources
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A Thought to Carry With You
“You don’t have to control God’s plan to experience God’s promises.”
This article, “When you start strong but lose yourself along the way”, was inspired by Episode 5 of the Eve’s Drop series on Between The Verses – Real Talk. Real Faith with Kelli LaVerne. In this episode, we take a deeper look at Rebekah’s story and what it teaches us about trusting God’s timing, resisting the urge to take control, and returning to faith when we’ve lost our way.
Kelli LaVerne is a writer, devotional creator, and founder of Faith Reset Daily. She is passionate about helping women strengthen their faith, hear God’s voice clearly, and grow spiritually without pressure or perfection. Through practical biblical encouragement, she creates space for faith that feels real, steady, and life-giving.
Great content! Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for your for your encouraging words. May God bless you abundantly.