Don't Try This AloneSample

Here’s an uncomfortable truth: We can follow God and still experience hard and painful things. The Israelites are a perfect example of this.

In the Bible the Israelites are following Moses from Egypt to Canaan. They camped in a place called Rephidim, “but there was no water for the people to drink. So, they quarreled with Moses” (Exodus 17:1–2). I want to point out that these people left behind bondage and all they had known to follow God’s plan for their lives. They were following the will of God, but that did not come with protection from imperfection or pain.

Moses knew that even when pain and longing comes into our hearts, our God is able to fulfill those longings and provide a way forward. Moses did what we see him do best, he took his difficulties to the Lord. And look at what God’s first instruction was: “The Lord answered Moses, ‘Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I will stand before you by the rock at Horeb’ ” (Exodus 17:5–6).

God’s way forward through hard things will always be with Him and His people. God knew exactly what Moses needed to provide for the Israelites: He needed the God of divine presence, and he needed the physical, tangible presence of God’s people (the elders of Israel) if he was going to lead these people out of bondage, through the impossible, and onward to a peaceful place. Moses knew that the only way beyond the pain is through the pain. And he was reminded by God that he couldn’t—or maybe shouldn’t—do it alone.

Prayer

Father, please help me build a community that supports and encourages one another during difficult times. Thank You for reminding me that we have been created to help each other. Amen.