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Wandering in the Wilderness - October 26, 2005
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3
One morning I found myself in a fit of despair, feeling very lost, as if I was going around and around in circles. There was a strong sense of hopelessness in my heart and all I could do was cry out to the Lord, "Where are you, God? What did I do to deserve this pain and agony? How could this happen to me?"
As I dwelled in my own sorrowful thoughts, I was led to a place that only God could take me to. It was as if He opened a portal from thousands of years before, and I saw a place so barren and empty; a wasteland. There, I imagined the millions of Israelites wandering in the wilderness, searching fervently for the Promised Land. I thought about how the entrance to the land they desperately were seeking was within a few days' journey, yet they continued to go around and around in circles. It was almost silly to think that they couldn't have just stumbled onto the way out; after all, they were there for forty years!
But God's way is perfect and we are never to doubt that. Yes, God could have opened up the pathway and led the multitude over to Jordan the first week of their journey. Or He could have changed the fabric of the wilderness to become green and lush, fulfilling their every physical need. But He knew there was so much more for them, even if they could not see it. I wondered what would happen if God made every pain go away instantly or never had us wait upon Him for an answer to prayer. We'd expect everything to be fixed immediately and there would be no challenge, no perseverance, no repentance and no glory given to Him. We'd just be sitting there waiting for the handout from our vending machine god and would never know of His true goodness, grace and mercy.
God's purpose for our lives is so much more than anything we could imagine. He sees clearly the whole picture, not just the fragments. He knows the beginning, the middle and the end. God understands our pain and asks us to endure it with Him. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. If He chooses not to fix it all at once, we are called to remain faithful, abiding in Him, no matter what the circumstances. Even the Israelites, who saw great pillars of cloud and fire daily, gathered baskets of manna that fell from the sky, wore sandals that never fell apart and heard clearly the voice of God, veered away and worshiped other idols and man-made gods. Are we not the same as them?
Of course we want all of our sorrow, problems and pain to go away instantly. But we need to be living as God commands and wait for the day that He chooses to answer and act. As I thought upon this picture placed before me, my troubles seemed less urgent and important. I knew that God heard my cries and was there waiting for the perfect time to heal the pain. And, as He did for the Israelites those many years ago, He will answer my cry and lead me to a better place of His choosing, and in His own time.
When I think about it, maybe a few more days of wandering in the wilderness is not so bad after all.
Contributed by Diane Check
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3
One morning I found myself in a fit of despair, feeling very lost, as if I was going around and around in circles. There was a strong sense of hopelessness in my heart and all I could do was cry out to the Lord, "Where are you, God? What did I do to deserve this pain and agony? How could this happen to me?"
As I dwelled in my own sorrowful thoughts, I was led to a place that only God could take me to. It was as if He opened a portal from thousands of years before, and I saw a place so barren and empty; a wasteland. There, I imagined the millions of Israelites wandering in the wilderness, searching fervently for the Promised Land. I thought about how the entrance to the land they desperately were seeking was within a few days' journey, yet they continued to go around and around in circles. It was almost silly to think that they couldn't have just stumbled onto the way out; after all, they were there for forty years!
But God's way is perfect and we are never to doubt that. Yes, God could have opened up the pathway and led the multitude over to Jordan the first week of their journey. Or He could have changed the fabric of the wilderness to become green and lush, fulfilling their every physical need. But He knew there was so much more for them, even if they could not see it. I wondered what would happen if God made every pain go away instantly or never had us wait upon Him for an answer to prayer. We'd expect everything to be fixed immediately and there would be no challenge, no perseverance, no repentance and no glory given to Him. We'd just be sitting there waiting for the handout from our vending machine god and would never know of His true goodness, grace and mercy.
God's purpose for our lives is so much more than anything we could imagine. He sees clearly the whole picture, not just the fragments. He knows the beginning, the middle and the end. God understands our pain and asks us to endure it with Him. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. If He chooses not to fix it all at once, we are called to remain faithful, abiding in Him, no matter what the circumstances. Even the Israelites, who saw great pillars of cloud and fire daily, gathered baskets of manna that fell from the sky, wore sandals that never fell apart and heard clearly the voice of God, veered away and worshiped other idols and man-made gods. Are we not the same as them?
Of course we want all of our sorrow, problems and pain to go away instantly. But we need to be living as God commands and wait for the day that He chooses to answer and act. As I thought upon this picture placed before me, my troubles seemed less urgent and important. I knew that God heard my cries and was there waiting for the perfect time to heal the pain. And, as He did for the Israelites those many years ago, He will answer my cry and lead me to a better place of His choosing, and in His own time.
When I think about it, maybe a few more days of wandering in the wilderness is not so bad after all.
Contributed by Diane Check
and quite encouraging !!! thanks for sharing that. 
