Devastation… a Possible Invitation?

There the Israelite’s stood, as Exodus 14 explains, they had seen God’s power as He slayed the Egyptians with plague after plague because Pharaoh, their king, wouldn’t let them go. For a time, things got hard and the Israelite’s questioned God and His chosen leader, Moses, but still— God kept them. He was working through all of it, providing a way for their freedom, establishing them in a place where they wouldn’t just leave, but head into His promise for them with the riches of those who held them captive.

And after 10 awful plagues Pharaoh finally let them go and they were free! Walking into the promise God had given their forefathers. How incredible?! The wait was over, God had heard their cry, and they had seen His miraculous power.

But then they found themselves  feeling helpless and devastation rose in their hearts as their captors— the ones who they thought God had freed them from were coming for them…

I don’t know what devastation you have experienced of late or are experiencing right now but you know that heart-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach feeling when things go much differently than you could have hoped for or expected. Maybe it’s in a close relationship or at work or in school. Maybe it’s in your health or with your family. Maybe it’s happening to your friend or loved one. Or maybe you don’t know them but the that raw, gnawing, chest compressing reality they’re experiencing breaks your heart and the devastation overwhelms you.

Just like the Israelite’s, I sometimes tend to panic. They had the entire Egyptian army coming for them and they were stuck looking at the Red Sea feeling hopeless. In your situation, what’s causing you to maybe want to run and hide, to fear, to cower, making you angry, frustrated and making you feel hopeless? Right there, in those places, could there be an invitation?

An invitation to trust as our verse above says that “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” To not lean on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge the Lord so He can direct our paths as Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us?

In these moments, the times where the enemy wants fear, doubt, and frustration to reign will we stand firm, take those thoughts captive, and let these verses comfort and steady our hearts?!

Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”Exodus 14:13-14

With that, God put the Angel of the Lord behind them to protect them, told Moses to raise his staff over the waters, and God sent a strong wind that divided the waters before them.  Once they were through the path God had made for them the Egyptian army followed and the waters came crashing down on them. God had protected His people and defeated their enemies in what had seemed to be a completely hopeless situation.

Whew, does that get your heart racing? Man, it does mine!!! What seemed like sure devastation turned into an invitation to not only see the power of God but experience it on a scale many have yet to.

Life is hard, difficulties come, heartache is sure, but we have a Red Sea dividing God that wants to take your devastation and turn it into an invitation to watch Him do the miraculous not only for you but for those around you.

Just like God had a plan to not only take care of His people but completely destroy their enemy in the process He wants to do that for you and me. He wants us to come to Him, look to Him, find safety and security in Him and let Him fight for us as He walks along side of us through the devastation’s of life.

Lord, today, we give you the hurt, pain, anguish in our hearts and we look to you to lead us through the waters of our devastation as we turn it into an invitation to see You in unfathomable ways. Help our hearts trust to You as we cling to You for direction.

In the nothing impossible name of Jesus we pray, Amen!!

With love because of Christ’s,