Life goes on
And his wife conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house. ~ 1 Chronicles 7:23
Have you ever experienced a season when life didn’t turn out the way you expected, but somehow the calendar kept moving, the sun kept rising, and responsibilities kept calling your name? Sometimes life brings unexpected heartache, disappointments, loss, and circumstances that leave us wondering how we’re supposed to move forward and still, life goes on. Not because everything is suddenly okay, but because God is still at work, His promises are still true, and He still has a purpose for our lives. We may not always get to choose what happens to us, but with God’s help, we can choose how we move forward.
Today’s scripture reading is another chapter filled with family names, generations, descendants, and accounts of mighty men of valor. At first glance, it might seem like another long list of names that can be easy to skip over! But tucked into this genealogy is a powerful little story that deserves attention. In verse 23, we read about a man named Ephraim who experienced a terrible tragedy in his household. Scripture doesn’t give us all the details of his circumstances, but it does tell us that after this tragedy, he had another son and named him Beriah because sorrow had come upon his house. His family had experienced heartbreak, but their story didn’t end there. Life went on, and a new generation was born. What a beautiful reminder that even when life brings seasons we never expected, God is still able to bring new beginnings, fresh purpose, and hope for tomorrow.
Here are three important truths in this chapter that remind us how to keep moving forward as God’s people, even when life doesn’t go according to plan.
1. Don’t let yesterday’s tragedy determine tomorrow’s possibilities.
In this passage, Ephraim’s family experienced a devastating loss, yet the story didn’t end with that tragedy. Another son was born, and life continued. I find it somewhat comforting that the Bible doesn’t hide the painful part of this family’s story. It records the sorrow right alongside the new beginning. Sometimes we think that having faith means we shouldn’t experience sadness, disappointment, or difficult seasons. But that’s simply not true. Faith doesn’t mean we never hurt again. It means we know where to turn when we do. God never promised that we would walk through life without trouble, but He did promise that He would never leave us or forsake us.
There may be things in your past that you wish had turned out differently, relationships that didn’t survive, opportunities that slipped away, or prayers that weren’t answered the way you hoped. Perhaps you’ve experienced a season that left you feeling like you’ve lost more than you can recover. But I want you to remember that your past doesn’t have to write the rest of your story. God is still able to bring beauty from broken places and purpose from painful experiences.
Here are some ways to put this point into action:
Maybe you’ve experienced disappointment in your workplace, a difficult family situation, or a ministry opportunity that didn’t turn out the way you expected. Instead of allowing that disappointment to keep you from moving forward, ask God to show you what He has next. Maybe He has another opportunity, another person who needs your encouragement, or a new assignment that you haven’t even considered. Don’t spend so much time wishing yesterday had been different that you miss what God is doing today. You can grieve what you’ve lost and still have hope for what is ahead. Both can exist at the same time. Remember, God isn’t finished writing your story!
2. God can use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.
One of the interesting details in this chapter is found in verse 24, where we read about Ephraim’s daughter, Sheerah. Scripture tells us that she built Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah. Think about that for a moment. In a chapter filled with the names of sons, warriors, and descendants, this woman’s contribution is specifically recorded. She was a builder! She didn’t just occupy space in her family history, she made a difference in the world around her.
I love that Scripture takes the time to mention what she accomplished. It reminds us that God has a purpose for every one of us, and we shouldn’t underestimate what He can do through our lives. Sometimes we think making a difference requires a big platform, a special title, or a position of influence. But the truth is, some of the most important things we will ever build won’t make the headlines. We build when we encourage someone who is struggling, invest in the next generation, create an atmosphere where people feel welcome, or faithfully serve where God has placed us. We may never know how many lives are impacted by the things we do in obedience to Him.
Here are some ways to put this point into action:
Take a look at what God has placed in your hands right now. Maybe you’re raising children, leading a small group, serving in your church, encouraging a coworker, or caring for someone who needs a little extra love. Don’t dismiss those things as ordinary. You may be building something that will impact generations to come. Perhaps you’re the person who consistently sends an encouraging message, prays for someone who is struggling, or takes time to listen when everyone else is too busy. Those things matter! You don’t have to wait until you have a bigger opportunity to make a difference. Start building right where you are. Like Sheerah, you may be accomplishing more than you realize.
3. Keep moving forward because God is still building your legacy.
Throughout this chapter, we see generation after generation recorded. We read about families, mighty men of valor, leaders, and descendants who continued to grow and multiply. Their names were recorded because their lives were part of a much bigger story. One generation was connected to another, and the story continued.
This reminds us that our faith isn’t meant to stop with us. God has called us to live in such a way that the people coming behind us can see what it looks like to trust Him, follow His Word, and remain faithful through every season of life. We don’t always get to see the full impact of our obedience, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t making a difference. Think about the people who invested in your life, prayed for you, encouraged you, and helped you grow in your faith. Their influence is still producing fruit in your life today. Now it’s our turn to do the same for someone else. We aren’t just living for today, we’re helping build a foundation for tomorrow’s generation.
Here are some ways to put this point into action:
Look for opportunities to intentionally invest in someone else’s faith. Share what God has taught you through your experiences, encourage a younger believer, pray with your children, or take time to tell someone how God has been faithful in your life. Don’t assume people know what you believe simply because they see you going to church. Let them see your faith in action when life gets difficult. When you face a challenge, let them see you pray. When you’re disappointed, let them see you trust God. When you make a mistake, let them see you turn to Him for forgiveness and direction. Your example may be one of the greatest gifts you leave behind. You may not all have your name recorded in a genealogy like the people in 1 Chronicles, but you can leave a legacy of faith that continues long after you’re gone.
Today I want to encourage you to keep moving forward, even when life hasn’t turned out the way you expected. Don’t allow yesterday’s disappointments to steal your hope for tomorrow. The same God who carried Ephraim’s family through tragedy is the God who is walking with you through every season of your life. He can bring new beginnings after loss, use your ordinary obedience to accomplish extraordinary things, and make your life a testimony of His faithfulness for generations to come.
You may not understand everything that’s happened along the way, but you can trust the One who knows the beginning from the end. So keep praying, keep believing, keep serving, and keep building. There are still people who need your encouragement, lives that need to be touched, and opportunities waiting for you to step into. Life goes on, and thankfully, God will go with you! Your story isn’t over, and the best thing you can do today is give God your next chapter.
Today’s scripture reading: 1 Chronicles 7
1 The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four in all.
2 The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house. The sons of Tola were mighty men of valor in their generations; their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.
3 The son of Uzzi was Izrahiah, and the sons of Izrahiah were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah. All five of them were chief men.
4 And with them, by their generations, according to their fathers’ houses, were thirty-six thousand troops ready for war; for they had many wives and sons.
5 Now their brethren among all the families of Issachar were mighty men of valor, listed by their genealogies, eighty-seven thousand in all.
6 The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, and Jediael—three in all.
7 The sons of Bela were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri—five in all. They were heads of their fathers’ houses, and they were listed by their genealogies, twenty-two thousand and thirty-four mighty men of valor.
8 The sons of Becher were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jerimoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these are the sons of Becher.
9 And they were recorded by genealogy according to their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, twenty thousand two hundred mighty men of valor.
10 The son of Jediael was Bilhan, and the sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
11 All these sons of Jediael were heads of their fathers’ houses; there were seventeen thousand two hundred mighty men of valor fit to go out for war and battle.
12 Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, and Hushim was the son of Aher.
13 The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 The descendants of Manasseh: his Syrian concubine bore him Machir the father of Gilead, the father of Asriel.
15 Machir took as his wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose name was Maachah. The name of Gilead’s grandson was Zelophehad, but Zelophehad begot only daughters.
16 (Maachah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she called his name Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17 The son of Ulam was Bedan.) These were the descendants of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18 His sister Hammoleketh bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19 And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
20 The sons of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eladah his son, Tahath his son,
21 Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. The men of Gath who were born in that land killed them because they came down to take away their cattle.
22 Then Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived and bore a son; and he called his name Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house.
24 Now his daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah;
25 and Rephah was his son, as well as Resheph, and Telah his son, Tahan his son,
26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27 Nun his son, and Joshua his son.
28 Now their possessions and dwelling places were Bethel and its towns: to the east Naaran, to the west Gezer and its towns, and Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns;
29 and by the borders of the children of Manasseh were Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph, the son of Israel.
30 The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.
31 The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
32 And Heber begot Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua.
33 The sons of Japhlet were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were the children of Japhlet.
34 The sons of Shemer were Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35 And the sons of his brother Helem were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
36 The sons of Zophah were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
37 Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Jithran, and Beera.
38 The sons of Jether were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.
39 The sons of Ulla were Arah, Haniel, and Rizia.
40All these were the children of Asher, heads of their fathers’ houses, choice men, mighty men of valor, chief leaders. And they were recorded by genealogies among the army fit for battle; their number was twenty-six thousand.
Journal:
- Have you experienced a disappointment or difficult season that has made it hard to move forward? What would it look like to trust God with your next chapter?
- What has God placed in your hands right now that you can use to make a difference in someone else’s life? Are there opportunities you’ve been overlooking because they seem too ordinary?
- Who has invested in your faith and helped shape the person you are today? How can you intentionally pass that same encouragement and faith on to someone else?
- What kind of spiritual legacy do you want to leave behind? What is one thing you can begin doing today to help build it?
