Just the Beginning
You know, sometimes it seems like our teaching would lead us to believe that when we trust God and follow Him nothing bad will ever happen to us. How far from the actual truth is that? Lol. Not one story in the Bible would even provide a slight indication that this was true. But somehow, we've got a generation or two that believe it is so.
Think about Moses. He was was on the back side of the desert hiding for his life because he had killed an Egyptian. He went there in fear but this part of the story is very short. He passionately stood up for his fellow Israelite and slew the oppressor and then he ran away. (Exodus 2) About all we know during this phase of his life is that he stayed in the land of Midian. He married. He had kids. There's not much to see here, folks. Enter the burning bush.(Exodus 3)
God called Moses to go back and get His people and deliver them from their oppressors. And he did. But it certainly didn't mean all his problems were going to disappear. He obeyed God to a T and did exactly what He said. But Moses still found himself facing down the Red Sea and being hotly pursued by Pharoah and his army. He was in a tight spot - because he obeyed God. Obedience didn't keep the hard stuff from happening, in fact, it was just the beginning.
Exodus chronicles how Moses led the Children of Israel through the wilderness. There were many hiccups along the way. It still wasn't a straight shot or an easy path - even though they were following God's presence. There was bitter water, no water, no meat, golden calves, and whiny, gripey Israelites to deal with all along the way. Why would we ever think that following God exempts us from life's tough spots?
Yet in the middle of a life filled with tough spots - God's grace breaks through. He does it over and over again. We are never stranded. He didn't leave those whiney people in the wilderness - He kept leading them. And He will keep leading us too!
Today, I'll think about how rough spots and difficulties continue to happen, but I'll remind myself that God is still right here with me. His presence doesn't mean I don't face stuff - it just means that in the middle of life's "stuff" His peace is present too. I have the calming assurance that nothing I face today will be too big (or too small) to garner His attention. My meditations will be on how He just keeps walking with me and ahead of me laying out each step of the way so I don't get lost. With that - I will trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?
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Affirmations for Caregivers
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