Have you ever felt stuck?
Like you were just treading water? Like you were hanging from a cliff and your hand was slipping? Nothing seems to be changing or there doesn't seem to be an end in sight? I imagine, after forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites felt this way. I'm sure their burdens began to feel too heavy to bare. Unfortunately, their problem was continued disobedience. They knew God's commands. They understood them, but it's not always easy to be obedient. Near the end of their journey, Moses spoke to the Israelites, telling them all that God had told him to say. He reminded them of their rebellion and God's discipline because of their choices. Those forty years? That was their discipline. "Normally it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir." ~ Deuteronomy 1:2 The forty years Israel spent in the wilderness, should have only taken them 11 days. Eleven days. Wow! How often do we get stuck in a rut because we are not following God's commands. We know what they are. We are reading and learning His Word through the Bible, yet we don't choose to follow ALL of His ways. When God calls us to do something, and we feel that tug yet we choose not to follow, we have to pay the consequences for that disobedience. We may be left to wander right where we are until we surrender to His Word. I have been there. There was a time when I let discontentment consume me. It stole my joy and I was stuck. No matter what I did, there was never a change. My circumstances remained the same. And then I surrendered. I told God I was okay if He didn't give me what I desperately wanted. I was grateful for what I had and I was going to start appreciating that instead of dwelling in my selfishness. I'm embarrassed to say it took me years to get to that point of contentment. But when I did? God blessed me twice as much as I ever asked of Him! I don't ever want to take for granted the blessings God has given me. I don't want to forget all that He has brought me through and everything He has given me along the way. Because the truth is: I don't deserve any of it. I don't deserve His love. I don't deserve the sacrifice of His Son's life for my sins. I don't deserve His mercy. I don't deserve His forgiveness. And I don't deserve His blessings. I'm a sinner. Plain and simple. I mess up. Every. Single. Day. No matter how hard I try, I'm going to make mistakes. But.... I'm so thankful for His grace, and this life, and His blessings and JESUS. I want to trust Him and obey Him and serve Him fully. Why? "But even after all He did, you refused to trust the Lord your God." ~ Deuteronomy 1:32 We are so quick to thank God for His goodness and blessings in the good moments, but then quickly return to worrying and trying to handle things ourselves when times get tough. So often, we get caught up in our circumstances and forget who is really in control. Who sees the whole picture? Who knows the outcome? Who has our best eternal interest at heart? I need to trust God completely in EVERY situation. Even the hard ones. Even the ones that bring me to my knees. Even the ones I don't understand or like. Even the ones that break my heart. I need to trust Him. I need to obey Him. And I need to remember all that He has done for me and thank Him. That's my challenge today: Thank God for His blessings, love, mercy and His Son, no matter what circumstances I may be facing. I don't want to get stuck in the wilderness. I want to know God and His commands and I want to follow Him and recognize all that He is doing for me. May God bless each of you today! Keep reading Scripture! Joyfully His, Andrea
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For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. " AuthorHi! I'm Andrea, wife to my handsome hubby, homeschooling mama to my 7 amazing blessings, and daughter of the King of kings. I am so glad you have stopped by my little piece of the web. My prayer is that the Lord will use this blog to encourage you in your personal, daily walk with Christ. Archives
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