May 11th

May 11th  

When we face troubles, not only can it be beneficial to remind ourselves of what is ahead, but it can also be helpful to remind ourselves what is behind. I’m thinking of the story of Joseph. See Genesis Chapters 37, 39-47 and 50. Basically Joseph bragged to his older brothers, they got jealous and sold him into slavery to a caravan heading to Egypt. He ended up serving the Pharoah and after a long complicated course (including prison time for something he didn’t do), he ended up second in command in Egypt, which in the long run saved the nation of Israel. If you don’t know the story well, go back and read those chapters, so many twists and turns and disappointments, but God used them all for good. It is summarized well in this verse:

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

When I do face troubles, I have to remind myself that the Lord will use every single thing for my good and His glory. Whether that is to shape and mold my character and produce His results IN me or to produce His results AROUND me.

Paul reminds us of this very thing in Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who i have been called according to his purpose.

We cannot know what lies around the bend in the road, but God does. The thing we can rest on is that nothing is a surprise to Him and He wants only the very best for us. Sometimes that best doesn’t look like what we think it should, but in the long run it is exactly what the right thing.

Think about how God brought the Israelites coming out of Egypt (Exodus 14.) He brought them to what appeared to be the wrong way, a dead end, trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army pursuing them. They would not have chosen this path if they had known what was ahead and then they would have missed out on the miracle that freed them and destroyed their enemies. Sometimes our paths that seem to lead to defeat actually lead to freedom. Jesus never leads us into anything that would harm us. Our choices may, but He never does. He does use whatever hard things we face to strengthen and shape us though. So there they stood at the Red Sea starting to panic and brace themselves for pain or destruction by the Egyptian army. Then God did something miraculous, He parted the Red Sea and they crossed on dry ground, and when the enemy tried to pursue them, waters rushed back into place and drowned them.

Hebrews 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

Are you facing a “Red Sea while being chased by the enemy” in your life right now? You can rest in the fact that God is well aware of your predicament and although what is ahead may be hard, you are not alone; and if you let Him, He will lead you through on dry ground. Be still in your heart and rest on His love for you.

Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Jesus, thank you that you have all the details of my life on your radar and you will walk through with me. Thank you that you will provide a way for me to get through all that I face. Help me to trust in you and rest in your love and provision for me. Forgive me for the times that my choices were wrong and thank you that you will redeem my life even so. Thank you for your perfect love and perfect plan and your patience with me.