Created With Purpose
Created with Purpose Woman of the Week: Eve Key Verse: “So God created man in His own image… male and female He created them.” — Genesis 1:27 Lesson
Title: Belly Buttons and Other Big Questions Let’s just start with a theological mystery straight from the mouth of a three-year-old: “Mom, did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?” That was the profound, wide-eyed bedtime question my daughter Ally asked me at age three — completely serious, completely curious. (Side note: I never answered her. I just blinked at her and told her to go to sleep. Because… umm… I wasn’t ready for that level of theological weight at bedtime.) But you know what? That question reveals something deep: Ally was paying attention. She knew Eve didn’t have a mom. She was starting to connect creation with identity — and that’s exactly what we’re doing today.
Let’s Talk About Eve Eve gets a bad rap. She's often reduced to “the woman who messed everything up.” But before the fruit, before the fall, before the whisper of the serpent — she was the first woman to ever walk with God in perfection. The first to know what it was like to live without fear, shame, or comparison. And like us, she was created with purpose. The Hebrew word for “created” in Genesis 1:27 is "bara" (בָּרָא) — used only for divine creation. Not crafted, not formed by human hands — but spoken into being by God Himself. Eve wasn’t an afterthought. She wasn’t Plan B. She was God’s intentional, poetic, stunning finale to the creation story. And in Genesis 2:22, when it says God “made” the woman from Adam’s rib, the Hebrew word is "banah" (בָּנָה) — which means to build or architect. She wasn’t slapped together. She was designed. Carefully. Deliberately. Lovingly. 💬 Real Talk: Eve Was... Kind of Like Us Now, Eve didn’t have to fight road rage, respond to texts, or figure out if leggings are pants (jury’s still out). But she did wrestle with emotions, longing, curiosity, creativity, and yes — doubt. Let’s be honest: doubt isn’t the enemy. I’ve walked with Jesus for over 50 years. I’ve prayed big prayers, watched miracles unfold, and seen Him carry me through more storms than I can count. And I still have questions. I still have moments of wondering: God, are You really in this? Do You still have a plan for me? What are You doing with this mess? Are You even real? We don’t talk about this enough. But doubt doesn’t disqualify your faith. It can deepen it. Doubt can push you toward truth. If we let it, doubt can lead us straight into the arms of a faithful God. And if I could understand it all — if I had every answer — then I wouldn’t need faith. But I do. And so do you.
When Purpose Feels Hard to Find Can I be honest? It’s been hard for me to find my purpose in this stage of life. My favorite role on this planet is “mom.” I’ve raised four beautiful children and now have the joy of loving three amazing stepchildren, their spouses, and a growing crew of grandbabies. I was created to be a mom. I know that deep in my bones. I also believe I was created to be a wife — but that storyline didn’t go as planned. (Then again, most of them don’t. But that’s a story for another day.) I knew the kids would grow up and leave, but I wasn’t prepared for what that would do to my sense of purpose. I was also running a small business at the time — and while that helped fill my time, it didn’t fill my soul. Filling time and filling purpose are not the same thing. 🔍 What Were You Created For? That’s what this lesson is about: rediscovering what you were created for. Here are a few questions to help you explore your purpose: What makes your heart beat fast in the best way? What relaxes you and brings you peace? What would you do if you had no limits? No boundaries? What kind of legacy do you want to leave? For me? I found my purpose — and it’s you. I’ve been writing these lessons for years. On napkins, receipts, the backs of church bulletins, in the margins of my planner, and yes — gum wrappers. Thoughts scribbled during quiet mornings or chaotic carpool lines. I never dreamed they’d become something. Yet here they are — somehow finding their way into your heart. It’s my prayer they will offer you renewed hope in a season that might not make sense… yet. I’ve had many of those seasons. You probably have too.
Let’s Talk About Doubt and the Fall The serpent didn’t say, “Eve, go be evil.” He said: “Did God really say…?” — Genesis 3:1 That little phrase in Hebrew — "אַף כִּי־אָמַר אֱלֹהִים" — (“Did God actually say?”) is soft, sly, subtle. It’s not a shove — it’s a suggestion. A whisper of uncertainty. A seed of doubt in God’s character. That’s how temptation often starts: not with a lie about you — but a lie about God. Eve didn’t rebel because she was evil. She was confused. Curious. Maybe even hopeful. She thought maybe there was more. And I get it. I’ve done it. Maybe you have too.
But Here’s the Grace God didn’t say, “You’re dead to Me.” He said, “Let Me cover you.” “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” — Genesis 3:21 Let’s pause there. Have you ever really thought about what He covered them with? Animal skins. Which means… something had to die. This is where it gets both heavy and holy: In order to cover their shame, a sacrifice was made. The first death in Scripture — not of man, but of an innocent animal. It’s the beginning of the long thread that would one day lead to Jesus, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” — Hebrews 9:22 That moment in the garden wasn’t just about consequences — it was a foreshadowing of the cross. God was already preparing the covering. And today? He still covers us. But not with skins. He covers us with: Grace when we mess up. Favor we didn’t earn. Protection from battles we don’t even see. And unrelenting love that never changes. He doesn’t uncover our shame — He covers it with Himself.
Today’s Reflection: What questions about God or your purpose do you still wrestle with? Have you ever believed the lie that doubt is a sign of weak faith? What role or season in your life gave you the most clarity about your purpose? Where do you feel God might be calling you next? What would it look like to embrace this current season — even if it doesn’t make sense yet?
Prayer: God, thank You for being big enough for my questions. Thank You for loving me when I don’t have it all figured out. Like Eve, I sometimes reach for things I don’t need — all because I forget how good You are. Remind me today that You’re not afraid of my doubts. You welcome them. You meet me in them. You created me with intention, and You’re still writing my story. Thank You for Your covering — in grace, in love, and in Jesus. Amen.
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