The Path to Miracles

Exodus 13:17-18
Easy to Read Version

Pharaoh made the people leave Egypt. God did not let the people take the road leading to the land of the Philistines. That road by the Mediterranean Sea is the shortest way, but God said, "If the people go that way they will have to fight. Then they might change their minds and go back to Egypt.” So God led them another way through the desert by the Red Sea. The Israelites were dressed for war when they left Egypt.

You know how you worry about making the right decision?  Or you do your best to do the right thing, make the right move, even praying about it all.  And then trouble comes, or something happens that is contrary to your purpose, you start feeling like you missed the will of God. You start scrambling because you think you chose the wrong thing. 

Well...enter the Israelites coming out of Egypt. I will assume the reader knows the story. This part of their story struck me - did they know why God took them the long way 'round? I doubt it. They possibly even wondered why they weren't making a beeline for the Promised Land. 

God, in His omniscience, knew if they went the direct route, they would be discouraged very quickly by what was in their path. In fact, He took them the way of miracles! Wow. What a mindset change we would have if we quit looking at the obstacles in our life as we're doing something wrong, but instead as a path guided by the One we trust and lean on - a path to the miraculous. You may not need a sea parted, or manna from the sky - but do you need healing? Do you need restoration? Do you need deliverance?

Insert your need here that you can't see a solution for. Then face the day, stay on the path, trust in God and let Him lead you to your miracle.

    Side Note: The last part of this passage says the Israelites were dressed for war - they were ready to fight, but still God thought they would be discouraged by having to fight the Philistines. He knew them better than they knew themselves. He knows us, too. We gotta trust Him!!

Seeing in the Dark

Psalm 139:12
New English Translation

Even the darkness is not too dark for You to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to You.

This Psalm is one of the most beautiful ones, and clearly shows why David was a man after God's own heart.  I have been rereading it the last few days and this particular scripture keeps shining out at me. 

I have found myself in dark places a time or two in my life.  Places where I could not see the path ahead of me, let alone "see" God, or even feel His presence.  Those are times when I wondered if He could see me! Did He even know I existed?  I wonder if anyone reading this today has ever felt that?  Ever wondered if God could see you, hear you? 

It is so comforting to know that even in our dark times when we can't see our way through, God is not blinded by the dark.  He is not blinded by our darkness.  He sees just as well as if it was light.  There is peace to be had even in the dark times - God is not hindered by the darkness.  Keep going.  He's got you.

Moving Into Hope

Romans 5:1-5
KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I set out today to work on The Worth Project, but I was detoured to the path of Hope.  In part, I'm sure, because it is my word for the year. Or to be exact, the word "hopeful". In looking back at my word choice, I realize it was instinctive, but as I began to look into the scriptures today about hope, I can apply divine intervention as well. 

Initially, I was led to Romans 5:5 - hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Hope doesn't shame us. Oh, how that warmed my heart. But then something told me to go see where did the hope come from?  

Well. That would be tribulation. I used the KJV today because of how often I have heard (you, too, I'm sure) the big, bad, scary word "tribulation". But the original Greek word means "pressure", and that sounds less scary and more real to explain things in my life. 

We all have pressure(s). Whether it's a job, family, relationships, finances - life comes with pressures. Sometimes they can really make us feel like we are suffocating. Out of control. Burdened. Scared. You can go ahead and add your own feelings here. 

But the thing is, pressure, when faced and walked through (I've had to crawl here and there) brings patience (to have fortitude, persevere). Which gives us the experience (proof) that we can actually get through the pressure! 

And so then hope is created. Hope created by the perseverant experience of pressure. Hope is not really possible without the pressure. Hope is the result of of it! And once it is created, the pressure(s) can be more easily tolerated. It is a process (oh, isn't everything!). But if we allow the process (we're going to experience pressure anyway) and let it create hope in us - we can rejoice and be glad in the love and glory of God without shame. If you're reading this, you're human and you have pressure(s) you are dealing with - go ahead and persevere the experience and move into hope!