Finding Freedom

I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD!" So the Israelites camped there as they were told. Exodus 14:4

For some people (that would be me!), walking across a wobbly suspension bridge can be very unnerving.  I have only been on one a fraction of this length and that was enough.  Sometimes in life we find ourselves in 'wobbly' circumstances and some of them are orchestrated by God for the purpose of bringing us to a higher level of trust in Him, and to display His glory, goodness and faithfulness to us His people. Such times are generally uncomfortable and often we find ourselves floundering and faithless.  The Israelites are a good example of this.

Moses had delivered them from their captivity in Egypt; from a miserable life of bondage which had caused them to cry out to God for deliverance.  Now they were delivered but not completely.  They were in the wilderness camped beside the Red Sea - trapped really.  No way forward and the road behind led back into bondage.  They were in God's hands well and truly, and to be fair to them, sometimes that seems to be a very scary place.  But God had a plan for them and it was all good.  Their reaction though was to accuse, murmur and complain against their deliverer and want to turn and run back to the 'safe' place, the place that they were familiar with even though it was a place of misery and bondage. 

If we are to move into more freedom in our lives, we will have to go through times that stretch us and times that feel very uncomfortable for awhile.  We will have to change the old and familiar places in our hearts and minds, even in our behaviour, for the new places that feel strange and make us feel insecure for a time.  The wilderness is a time of transition from one place to another; this is our adjustment time, a time of testing through which we must pass to find a greater level of freedom and faith.  A time when, after we have passed through to the other side, we will have seen God's glory and maybe others will have seen it too.  Miracles don't happen unless we are in a place where we need one. 

If you find yourself in such a place right now will you look at it as a transition place from 'one degree of glory to another', a time for His purposes? This is not your final resting place! Remember that God allows us to come into difficult places, not to abandon us, but to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).  Will you acknowledge that He loves you and has a purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11)?  Don't choose to run back to the old familiar place, choose to come out into greater freedom and faith than you've know before. It's scary but it's safe if you keep your eyes on Jesus.

Prayer:  Lord  Jesus, my Great Deliverer, I choose today to trust you in my uncomfortable place, knowing that you have allowed me to be here and that you will bring me out into a broad place in due time.  Thank you for your great love for me and your promises which are true and faithful.  Amen