This morning in my devotion time I was reading in Exodus 13, just after the passover and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Vs. 17-18 says that the Lord purposely did not let them take the shorter route but instead lead them through the longer road in the desert. WHY? Because he knew they had been slaves for 400 years and were not prepared to battle. The short road would have led them staright into battle unprepared. Taking the longer road would protect them while allowing them opportunity to learn to trust and depend on God.
QUESTION?
*Am I willing to accept the fact that sometimes God will take me on the longer road to develop in me the character necessary to please Him that I would not develop on the shorter road?
*Am I willing to trust that God is more interested in accomplishing His will in me than I am, just not in the manner that I always see fit?
*Am I willing to accept that what God is doing in me is more important than what He is doing through me?
*Am I willing to understand that it is in the longer desert road that the qualities necessary for where I am going will be learned and developed and will become the foundation for the future.
*Am I willing to follow God no matter what road He leads simply because He is God and I am not.
I am ashamed to admit that I may kick and scream at times and even whine like the Israelites about the journey but in the end I am confident that God will carry onto completion every good work that He has begun in me. It is not unspiritual to question, process, express frustration, or even be weary at times as long as it is followed up with obedience. Personally, I think God appreciates the transparency, after all my true feelings are not hid from Him.
More than that, long roads remind me that my true passion is to be like Christ anyway. It has never been about the destination. It is about Love. My love for Christ and more importantly, His love for me.
Thoughts and/or comments?
Blessings,
Darren
Thoughts and comments?
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So often I feel frustrated with the long way around. God often will bury a thought or passion in my heart and yet i won't see it out because I do not have the patience to walk the path! But I'm begining to understand the path given to me is for the reason of shaping and strengthing, to say the least. It only made sense though when He opened my mind to the understanding of it (Luke 24:45). Glad to hear someone else touch on this! I am not alone!!! Be blessed.
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