Moses told them they were on their way to the promised land! Cue high fives and shouts of joy—headed to a land flowing with milk and honey!
If you know the rest of the story, you know that the trip didn’t quite meet their expectations. It was a long and winding road indeed. They didn’t follow directions, but were instead led by their feelings, fears, and emotions.
“Meh...I don’t feel like waiting on Moses to finish his meeting with God and come down from that mountain. I don’t trust him, even if God did get us out of Egypt (with parting gifts of silver and gold), part the Red Sea, and destroy those who wanted to drag us back into slavery. Let’s make a cool golden calf and .... party like it’s 1999 (B.C.).
And, there you have it. The people sidetracked themselves. Instead of entering a place of rest, they wandered in the desert for 40 years, wondering, “Are we there yet?”
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I escaped my proverbial “Egypt” two months ago, yesterday, as I left full time employment in the corporate world. Don’t misunderstand, I was not a slave to some harsh taskmaster. Quite the contrary, for over twenty years I was blessed to work with some phenomenal people. God undeniably led me to a place of provision to help me support my kids and establish a path for opportunity. And I am grateful. But, over the years I became a captive, nonetheless. My own insecurities, people-pleasing tendencies, and a need for the familiar left me feeling tethered to a job situation that chafed at me, made me uncomfortable, and fueled an inner frustration. My provision had become a prison.
Until God made a way out.
Doors shut, then opened. I was accepted into grad school and able to resign from my job. I could almost smell the days of wine and roses— meaningful discourse with fellow grad students, a part time job, plenty of time to catch up on personal projects, and time with my family. No more 5 a.m. alarms, stressful drive times, and long hours. This is it, the place of rest—the promised land is up ahead!
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Am I there yet?
I have to wonder, Did I make a wrong turn? Where is the milk and honey? The hammock and the umbrella drinks? The carefree days ?
Although I start each day with hope and a smile, spend the morning reading God’s Word and journaling, listening to inspirational podcasts from faves like Joyce Meyer and Steven Furtick from Elevation Church, my skin has crackled with the itch of anxiety, fear, and doubt. Each day has often felt like a roller coaster, where I am lurching upward on tracks of hopes and dreams, knowing the downhill slide of worry and what if lay just ahead. Not what I expected.
Hey, God! I don’t know how it happened, but I think I’m lost. I am stuck here, in the middle of NOWHERE!
And ever so quietly in my spirit today, while in the shower, no less—there was God telling me this is EXACTLY where He wants me to be. He made a way for me to leave Egypt behind and come to this place. Nowhere.
NOW here. Here, where, God will help me face my enemies.
Stay tuned for the rest of the journey....
