I AM THAT I AM

I AM THAT I AM: The Purpose Behind Every Step

Have you ever looked back on a difficult season, a sudden change in plans, or even a closed door, and realized—with profound clarity—that it all happened for a reason? That what felt like a setback was actually a setup? If so, you’ve experienced the quiet, powerful work of a God who is always in control, orchestrating our lives with a purpose far grander than our immediate sight can grasp.

The very name God gave to Moses from the burning bush speaks to this eternal nature: “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14, NIV). This declaration isn't just a name; it’s a statement of His absolute self-sufficiency, timelessness, and ever-present reality. He is the ultimate being, unbounded by the constraints of our time and perspective.

The Divine Architect: A Plan for Your Future

The core of our faith is the assurance that God is not a disinterested observer, but a loving and meticulous Architect of our lives. We often become discouraged when our plans fall apart, forgetting that the Lord is working from a blueprint we haven't even seen yet.

The prophet Jeremiah delivered one of the most comforting assurances in all of Scripture to a people facing exile and uncertainty:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

This isn't a promise that life will be easy, but a guarantee that every single event—the triumphs and the tears—is filtered through His intentional, loving plan. Our struggles are not random acts of fate; they are part of a divinely designed curriculum to shape us, teach us, and ultimately lead us to a better path.

The Purpose of the Detour: Teaching, Leading, and Correcting

Sometimes, the things that happen in our lives are for the sole purpose of redirecting our footsteps.

• To Teach Us: Hardship has a way of stripping away our pride and revealing our true dependence on God. When we are lost, God leads us through instruction.

  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8, NIV) The lesson may be patience, humility, or radical trust, but the process is always guided by His love.

• To Lead Us to a Better Path: A closed door can feel devastating until we realize it was a detour from a danger we couldn't see. When we trust in His sovereignty, we find guidance even when we don't understand the map.

  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

• To Protect and Prevent Us from Danger: Perhaps the most difficult events to accept are the ones that save us from an unseen, greater harm. Every moment is either a blessing given or a disaster averted. God acts as our ultimate defense.

  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2, NIV)

The First and the Last

This beautiful tapestry of purpose in our lives is possible because of who God is: The Beginning and the End.

The Apostle John records this majestic title given to Christ:

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” (Revelation 1:8, NIV)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13, NIV)

• He is the Beginning (Alpha): He initiated creation, set every event in motion, and knows us before we were even formed.

  “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16, ESV)

• He is the End (Omega): He will complete His perfect plan for the universe and for you. He knows the end result of every trial and every joy, guaranteeing that His purposes will stand.

Because God is the "I AM," the one who is eternally, He sees your entire life—from the first breath to the last—as a single, coherent story. He can allow temporary pain because He knows the everlasting good it produces. He can close a door because He knows the destination of the better one He's already prepared.

Next time you face an unexpected turn, a difficult lesson, or a moment of deep uncertainty, remember the One who is I AM THAT I AM. Rest in the certainty that the God who sees the end from the beginning is meticulously weaving your circumstances into a design that is ultimately for your hope, your future, and His glory.