A Way Through The Desert

It's always darkest before the dawn. This statement is a great metaphor describing the challenges of life. It reminds us life is fragile and unpredictable. An unfortunate reality of life is that it may worsen before it gets better.  

 
 

This pattern of bad preceding good is seen in the Bible. Before Joseph made it to Pharaoh’s palace, he was thrown into prison. Before the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian captivity, it became more oppressive. Before the Israelites crossed into the Promise Land, they wandered in the wilderness. Before Jesus was raised to life, he was beaten, bruised, and crucified.  

 
 

The prophet Isaiah uses this pattern of darkness before light. He warns the Israelites that darkness was coming upon Jerusalem by the hands of the Babylonians, and a remnant would be exiled for seventy years. It was going to be a dark time in the life of God's people. However, the darkness would be followed by deliverance. The Lord promised to bring his people back to the destroyed homeland, and they would rebuild again.  

 
 

Isaiah reminds God's people that he is for us: "Thus says the Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice. I am the Lord your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King" (Isaiah 43:14-15). God is for his people.  

 
 

The Exodus event reassures God's people that he is with us: "Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down; they cannot rise; they are extinguished, quenched like a wick" (Isaiah 43:16-17). Opposing, or adverse circumstances, nor hostile people, or problems will ever deter God. The past is proof!  

 
 

Even so, God doesn't want his people to focus on completed victories: "“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old" (Isaiah 43:18). Forget past victories! Dwelling on the "good-old-days" can keep us from seeing the brand-new things God is doing at this moment in time, "Behold; I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19). God never runs out of ways to deliver his people from troubles.  

 
 

Dark experience after dark experience seems to be the rhythm of life. Challenging obstacles abound, long, drawn-out journeys that test our faith; unknown futures make us anxious. We lack security from day to day, and it seems like our heavenly home far off, and makes us question whether we will endure the journey. 

 
 

The past victories of God remind us that God delivers, but we must not stay focused on the past. God is consistently at work, and he is constantly doing a new thing. Therefore, we look to the future with hope, and move forward in strength, knowing that the conquering death and resurrection of Christ Jesus defeated Satan, sin, and death, and gives us life abundantly, and life eternally. 

Find yourself in a hard spot? I'm in one now! Nevertheless, God is doing a new thing. We must understand that we don't go from one new thing to another. When God does something new, a majority of the time it's preceded by trials and tribulations. And even if our misfortune is caused by our own disobedience (like Israel's) we can be confident that God is at work, molding us into the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. Look up and trust God. He is doing a new thing. You just wait and watch.   

 
 

Perspective and Hope

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you " (Isaiah 43:2).

It doesn't take long to notice that there are few people standing in the line of trials and tribulations. Our human nature does not like bad experiences, so we avoid them at all cost. God created us with a sense of paradise and perfection. Within every human heart is a longing for that immaculate world, or flawless situation. So troubles are not on our to-do list.

We don't like to experience less than favorable situations, and as a result we struggle. Most of our struggle comes from this faulty idea that we can achieve a trouble-free life. Two words in the above passage give perspective and hope when we find ourselves in trouble.

Perspective is challenged and corrected with the word "when." Faulty thinking comes when we believe that there is a probability of a trouble-free life. It's not "if" we face troubles, but "when" we face them that puts everything in the right perspective. It could be that the apostle James had this very passage in mind when he wrote these words, "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" (James 1:2).

Hope is strengthened by the word "through." The loss of hope is the greatest danger when going through a terrible ordeal in life. When hope is gone there is no inspiration to endure. It is hard to endure when you don't believe that you will get through the ordeal. The reason that we can be sure that you will get through the problem is found in these assuring words, "I will be with you." The Lord is with his children always. He delights in every detail of our life, and he is holding our right hand.  You will meet trials in life, especially as a child of God, but you can be assured that the Lord will get you through it.

Lord, you promise to get me through whatever problem I experience in life. Thank you for always being with me. Enable me to overcome fear by trusting in you to get me through whatever comes my way. Amen!

Shattered Dreams: Dead-end or Doorway?

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” 

(Jeremiah 29:11)

The above passage has been a wonderful promise and encouragement for God’s people throughout redemptive history.  From the very first Jewish audience that heard the words for the first time to modern day Christians, God has assured his people of his plan and purpose for them.   Even so, many believers don’t grasp the significance on account of not grasping the context in which it is given. 

God gave this wonderful promise to Israel, one that would be fulfilled after they experienced God’s judgment.  Jeremiah was sent to Israel to call them back to the Lord.  They didn’t listen; therefore, God brought destruction upon Jerusalem, the temple, and the people of God.  A remnant of the people was exiled for 70 years.  In other words, their dreams were shattered.  

Nevertheless, in God’s economy, shattered dreams are not a dead-end, but a doorway for God’s grace.  Notice what the verse before the one above says, ““For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10).  God was going to enable them to dream again.  Shattered dreams are a doorway for God to do great and higher things in our lives.   

• Think of discomforting times in your life that caused distrust.  How did you respond? What are some of the lessons God taught you?  
• Think of a time of devastation in your life that became a doorway for greater and higher dreams.  If you are a parent, share with your children and teach them about the forgiveness and faithfulness of God.
•  Pray for a greater awareness of God’s activity in the lives of your family. Pray for opportunities to share God’s faithfulness with those around you.