As I sit here reading through the book of Numbers (yet again) I came across this scripture and it struck a cord within me, “And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses.” (numbers 21:4-5, ESV)

The word impatient can mean several things but here it means annoyed and anxious. And because the people were vexed with uneasiness they spoke out against God and God’s appointed leader. The journey was laborious and they grew weary: weary with not knowing, weary with lack of understanding, weary physically, weary emotionally. This is not an excuse for their behavior but a picture of what they faced. When we grow impatient with the Lord it means somewhere along the way we have lost our trust in Him. This is a crucial junction in faith because we need to stop, reflect, recollect, and ask God for help. The Israelites didn’t do that so they experience God’s judgment instead of grace. When the terrain of the journey seems too much to bear we then need to take refuge in God’s grace and mercy least we grumble against the Lord. God’s mercy is great and far reaching for those that seek it. Had the Israelites sought God’s grace they would have found it.

I can identify with this verse growing impatient and speaking out of emotion instead of asking for help. I love that God leaves the story of the past in the bible for us to learn from, so we don’t have to make the same mistakes. I don’t know how your journey looks or how difficult the terrain is, I only know my own. Yesterday out of my own frustration I complained in anger to which I had to repent of. I don’t want to ever become a hostage to my emotions; thus, out of the will of God.

Whatever your terrain looks like seek God’s assistance along the way, take refuge in His deep love and unending mercy for you. We do not have to complain and speak out against the Lord, we simple just need to ask for His help (regardless if it’s once, twice, or twenty times a day). He delights in helping us! God can’t help those that don’t ask. I encourage you to seek His assistance and ask for help when the journey has become burdensome.

Take comfort knowing Jesus will never ever leave you… even if you can’t see Him, He is there fighting your battle with you, every step of the way. The Israelites took their eyes off of the Lord and onto the terrain, so they forgot about all God had done for them and that He was traveling among them… Remember God makes us brave for the journey, ready for the work, geared for the pop-up battles, and equipped for the terrain. Trust His judgment even if you are drenched in the unknown and remember that God deems you fit for the expedition (even you don’t).

Good Afternoon Ladies.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Matthew 14:27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

April was a month full of emotions as my youngest sister was diagnosed with cancer. Then we found out the cancer had spread another whammy in the emotional department. Oh, the storms of life are hard to ride out with our faith intact. I know God to be good, loving, kind, compassionate, forgiving, and merciful. It is at times difficult to see those qualities when faith is faltering and all hell is breaking lose. Faith is not an easy thing to cultivate; yet, it is required of us.

In Matthew 14 the disciples encountered a storm on the lake as they were sailing across it but when Jesus appeared out of nowhere it startled them and invoked fear. Why? They weren’t looking least of all expecting God to show up to help them. They were overcome with emotion so much so they didn’t even recognize Jesus as He approached them. Even the chosen twelve found it difficult at times to develop their faith; so, God used the storms of their life as teaching tools to help them learn to rely on Him alone. Reliance means we have an understanding that we can trust in the Lord even if we don’t know what He is up to.

 Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!” The key here is that God will not abandon you no matter the battle you are facing or the storm that surrounds you. You may not always know what God is up to but He is going before you to help you. That should feed faith.  Jesus says in John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Jesus had no intention of letting the disciples fend the storm off alone but He allowed them enough distance ahead to realize they couldn’t do it without Him. Oh, Faith is a challenging thing to grow and then remain in and yet it is essential to do.

We often demand evidence of God’s greatness and when that evidence is not produced in a manner we choose we usually respond with an outburst. It’s important to understand faith is personal, so the journey that it takes you on will be personal. Your faith is unique to you. It is designed that way because God is personal and so are the evidences He bestows upon us through fellowship. Avoid the fellowship you’ll miss the evidence.

There are two responses to the Lord: to receive Him and the challenges that accompany that journey or to run from Him and from the blessings that arise out of the journey. It is so much easier just to ditch God when life gets difficult or when our prayers don’t get answered the way we want, or we don’t like what He says… the harder thing to do is trust… oh trusting is so difficult, isn’t it? It’s acknowledging you have given control to someone else and that is scary, isn’t it. That is faith though…it’s scary and reassuring at the same time. Faith development isn’t for the faint of heart. Like a mature oak tree, we need deep roots, rooted in the foundation of Jesus Christ to sustain us through the storms of life as the winds threatened to upheaval us, and the waves drown us.

I don’t know what you are facing but it is my hope and prayer that you receive the Lord and trust Him. Do not let your emotions (especially anger) keep you alienated from God. Do not let how people represent God keep you apart from Him and do not let the storms of life keep you separate from God. When you call upon His name, know it is personal, He is a personal God, that desires to uphold you- in the fashion He chooses. Trust His judgment and know He will not abandon you ever. In Romans 8 the Apostle Paul assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Know there is a reason for the challenges that are before you and God will work them out for your benefit, if you will  venture to trust Him. And know that God understands how difficult cultivating faith is; therefore, He is patient but still expectant.

Good Evening Ladies….

PS.  Psalms 121

I look up toward the hills.
From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
the Creator of heaven and earth!