God’s Heart-Sigh

Once Jo Beth and I were traveling, and she was cross-stitching. Suddenly she sighed. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “I have to pull all this out,” she said. “Why?” Jo Beth replied, “I didn’t count right at first, and if you don’t start right, the whole pattern will be distorted.” If you don’t start right, you won’t end up right.

God started right with His universe. He made us in His image, including freedom. Humanity used liberty to mess up the pattern. “Sorry” comes from a Hebrew root, “to sigh.” In that Divine sigh was deep heart-pain. Sin’s extent meant God would begin again with humanity.

God’s heart-sigh is not judgment, but hope. God is going to let freedom have its way, but also God will pick up the pieces and start again when liberty is abused and leads to destruction.

If you feel God sighing over you, don’t assume its wrath. If you are His child, it is the signal He’s going to wipe the slate of your heart clean and give you another opportunity.