Ryan Daffron

“And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven.” — Genesis 28:12

SOUNDING

Jacob is not on a spiritual retreat. He is running for his life, away from his brother, Esau. He has deceived his brother, fractured his family, and fled into the night, leaving nothing but fear and consequences behind him. This is the first time in Scripture that Jacob is truly alone. No parents. No protection. No plan. He lies down in unfamiliar territory and rests his head on a stone because there is nothing softer to lean on. His life feels unstable because it is.

It is here that God meets him. Not at home. Not at the altar when he was with his dad. Not when Jacob is confident or composed. God meets him on the ground, exposed and unsure. Jacob dreams of a ladder bridging heaven and earth, angels moving freely up and down, and the Lord standing above it all. The vision answers a question Jacob has not yet learned how to ask. He is not abandoned. Heaven is not distant. God has not withdrawn because Jacob failed. The connection between God and humanity is already established, even when Jacob cannot feel it.

This moment reframes everything. God does not wait for Jacob to clean up his past or stabilize his future. He speaks promise into uncertainty. He declares his presence in the wilderness. Sometimes God strips away familiarity so you can see what has been true all along. When the ground feels hardest, heaven is often closer than you realize. The stone beneath Jacob’s head becomes the place where his understanding of God begins to change.

BEARING

God’s presence is not dependent on your performance but on His faithfulness.

PRAYER

Lord, open my eyes to Your nearness when life feels unsettled and lonely. Especially in those times when I’ve made a mess of things.

DROP IN

Name one place in your life that feels uncertain or uncomfortable, and thank God for meeting you there.