Deep Water Faith

Even though we may be faithful Christians, that does not mean that we will not face challenges & struggles in our lifetime.   God will allow us to face challenges, yes allow, because that is how we grow, it is what builds & strengthens our faith.  (James 1:2-4)

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt he did not take them along the short route into the Promised Land.  (Exodus 13:17-18).  He knew that if they had to face the Philistine’s in battle they would flee back to Egypt in fear.  So instead, He led them through the longer route, around the desert, and right up to the biggest obstacle that they would ever face…the Red Sea.  

WHY didn’t God just help them defeat the Philistines and immediately give them the Promised Land?  WHY did He instead bring them into what looked like an impossible position, and most likely a death sentence?

• First of all, they couldn’t run from this challenge, because Pharaoh’s army was behind them and the Red Sea in front of them.
• More importantly, if God had helped them fight the Philistines and take over the land they might think that they won it through their own efforts, their own skill.

On the other hand, can you imagine standing there at the Red Sea when the waters parted?  Now that would indeed be a jaw-dropping experience!  No way they could think they did that on their own.  Instead, they were able to witness the ‘Glory & Might of the Lord’ as He led them through the deep waters.

God could have taken the Israelites along the short route directly into the Promised Land, but He chose the longer route through the wilderness so that He could strengthen their faith and they could grow in their knowledge of Him.  I know that there have been several times in my life that I have hit my knees in total awe because I knew without a doubt it was only the Lord that brought me through the most difficult of times.

Truths to Lean On:

• While He allows us to go through some difficult challenges, he never abandons us. He wants us to grow to trust Him, let go of control and let His glory shine through, no matter our circumstances.  Hold on to the fact that If He doesn’t remove it from our path, he will lead us through it.
• God longs for us to know, through our own experiences, that there is nothing that brings Him more pleasure than demonstrating His power & love in and through our lives. Though we may not always see it at the time, sometimes it may be years later.
• We may be brought through some very painful experiences because we live in a fallen world with a spiritual battle going on.  We are not promised ‘heaven here on earth’.   “In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16:33).  Instead, our life here on earth is a journey preparing us for heaven…before He leads us into the eternal Promised Land. (James 1:4)

Still, it is hard to let go of control and wait.  Especially if it appears that God is being silent.  Read Exodus 32 - what compelled the Israelites to create the golden calf?  They got tired of waiting and panicked.  And, when we panic and take things into our own hands we usually create more problems for ourselves (remember Sarah and Hagar?).

When God seems silent, we grow anxious.  The irony is God wasn’t silent …while the Israelites were waiting God was speaking volumes.  He was revealing His law & instructions to Moses for the people.  Only the people of the Lord didn’t see it, so they grew anxious.

It is easy to have deep-water faith when we’re standing in the shallow end.  But there will be times when our faith is truly tested, when we may have to tread water and simply trust.

Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the founder & perfecter of our faith…  (Hebrew 12:2)