Hanging out in the Desert
Friends I am delighted to share another guest post with you from a precious friend who I have not met yet in REAL life.
I am delighted to share her guest post with you today. Please make her feel welcome. Laura I am thrilled to share your words
Hanging Out in the Desert
by Laura Rath
I had the great pleasure of reading an advance PDF version of Jenn’s eBook 31 Days to Coming Alive, and when it became available on Amazon, I purchased the real thing. Although I still had the PDF, I wanted the eBook so I could highlight and bookmark to my heart’s content.
“Day Nine: Coming Alive in Confidence” is my favorite. I keep going back to it, rereading, and highlighting more…and yesterday, I had another “aha” moment.
The times you feel you are in the desert, God will provide for you, protect you, and position you towards the Promised Land. – Jennifer Hand, 31 Days to Coming Alive
I read that and thought, “Yes, that’s how I feel, like I’m in walking in the desert, with a sandstorm blowing and threatening to knock me over.”
I reread Jenn’s sentence again and thought about manna floating down from the sky for the Israelites when they were in the desert. God provided, and the Israelites knew that, but after time, they got tired of manna. They focused on their frustration and complained about the way God was providing.
How often do I miss God’s provision and protection because I’m too focused on my own frustration and the situation I am in?
Or the times I miss seeing God in the small things because the big answer I have in mind is the only solution I can see?
Probably all too often.
How about you?
When is the last time you saw God clear the way for small steps in the desert, even while the sand continued to swirl?
God makes a way where there is no way. The Israelites were trapped between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea…and God made a way.
Sometimes it’s as dramatic as parting the Red Sea. Other times, it’s more subtle like getting through the day.
Often His provision and protection are easier to see when we look back. There are times I didn’t think I’d get through, but when I look back and see how I made it through—I know it was God’s work. He made a way where there was no human way.
When we’re in the middle of the sandstorm, it may be easy to miss God’s work because we’re only watching for the storm to end.
But He is there at work in the midst of the sting of the blowing sand…
When the illness continues, but you finally got a good night’s sleep.
When traffic causes you to miss the job interview, but you just barely missed the accident on the highway.
When the family estrangement continues, but you feel your anger weakening and decide to take the first step to reach out.
When life feels like it’s completely falling apart, but you feel closer to God than ever before.
God makes a way where we see no way. And if we’re so focused on what we see as the only answer, are we missing the way He’s creating for us?
To miss His way—that’s a frightening thought.
Photo credit: Stock photo: Sand Storm
A daughter of the King, saved by His grace, Laura writes to encourage women in their walk with Christ. She is a wife and mother, and shares her heart as a regular contributor for 5 Minutes for Faith, Next Level Mama, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. You can find Laura at Laura Rath ~ Journey in Faith, as well as on Twitter @LauraJRath and Facebook.
Jenn, thanks so much for having me here today! I so hope we get to meet in real life someday. 🙂
so blessed by your post Laura. Your writing is so easy for the reader to connect with. Thank you!
T.J., Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. God bless!