In Genesis 2:15-17, we see God placing Adam in the garden to “work it and keep it.” It’s a gift, a place full of life and beauty, and Adam’s role is to care for it. God also gives him freedom, with one clear instruction: “You may freely eat from every tree… but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die.”
This passage reminds us of how God entrusts us with roles and responsibilities, each with its own opportunities and limits. Just as Adam’s role came with the freedom to enjoy, it also came with guidance to protect him. In our lives, we, too, have roles that come with decisions and boundaries—maybe it’s about managing our time, relationships, or even areas where we’re learning to let go of control.
Reflecting on the areas where God has given you responsibilities, are there places where you feel challenged to stay within the limits He’s set? It can be difficult to hold to them when we’re tempted to see what may be on the other side (a potential new relationship, getting justice we feel we deserve, pursuit of earthly treasures, etc.). Sometimes, the desires themselves aren’t even always wrong but fall outside of what God is calling us to or from. The boundaries He gives aren’t there to keep us from fulfillment but to guide us toward the full, lasting life He has planned. He lovingly provides guidance to us, offering support and protection from the things that would ultimately be less than what He has for us.
What has God entrusted to you in this season? Lean on Him for strength to honor the roles you are in and to find joy within the path He’s marked out. Walking with Him, we can trust all things are for our good and His glory, even the boundaries.