What are You Listening To?
Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, it always does.
At least it seems to at the Cowell house! Sometimes, it’s relatively small things. Like forgetting to put chlorine in our pool all winter and pulling the cover off to find a deep, dark swamp. (Who, me?) Other times, the darkness is life altering. You’re praying for a loved one, asking God to turn them around, only to find out they have gone deeper into the pit of dark living. Discouragement threatens to pull you into the pit as well.
I know this is how Moses had to feel. He had obeyed God; gone to Pharoah and delivered the message. But the entire situation only got worse. In Exodus 6:6 – 23, not only did they have to continue the back breaking work of making bricks from scratch, now they had to get the supplies themselves as well! The people of God were furious with Moses; it was his fault that now the work was harder than ever and they blamed him.
Of course, Moses had done nothing but obey God. Obeying God, though, had made the entire situation worse…at least for the time being.
That’s the way life is sometimes. We sense God calling us, but when we obey, the situation gets worse.
Your child is struggling in public school, so you take him out to home school. For a time, his learning seems to go downhill; your in-laws blame you.
Your family time is suffocating, so you back off from volunteering so much at church in order to invest in each other. For a time, the church staff thinks you’re wrong.
You’ve raised your child to worship and follow hard after God, lived it out too, but now she’s “finding her own way” off at college. Some say you must have done something wrong.
Friend, when you have obeyed God and followed His Word and things only get worse, just know, that like the Israelites, God’s blessings are yet to come! When we make choices that follow the truth God has laid out for us, but it just doesn’t seem to working, we can be confident that God is setting things up to give Himself glory! Our job is to continue to obey; keeping our eyes on Him and His faithfulness and not on the immediate things before us. In Exodus 6:3, God revealed Himself as “El-Shaddai – God Almighty” and He wants to do the same in you!
It’s all about His glory and not our’s. “…Then you will know I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.” (Exodus 6:7)
During this season, don’t be like the Israelites; don’t become so discouraged that you won’t listen to encouragement. When Moses came to give them God’s word, it says, “…but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.” Read God’s word, listen to sermons online, spend time with friends who will encourage you when the pit is dark and deep. Know that God is setting the stage for a mighty work of freedom and deliverance in your life!
Jesus, not only does my situation seem deep and dark, but sometimes I feel dark too! Thank you for encouraging me to look to You and know that you are faithful and are at work, even when I don’t see it. I can’t wait to experience your mighty work of freedom for me and my family. Amen
Hello:
Thank you for your message today. My Mother passed away 2 years ago. She was my best friend. She was the one that I bounced parenting ideas off of, called when I was having a hard day or confused. She did not judge. That is one of the many things I truly miss about her. Now I do go to God but I don’t feel like He is there at times. Currently, our son is a Jr in college. His job that he thought was lined up in another state, fell through. He still wants to live in this state and find a job there and share an apartment with his girl friend. He has mentioned to me that he knows that that is wrong but her home life is dangerous to her; so he feels like he wants to help her out. We told him that he will have to come home if he doesn’t have a job as we are not going to finance this apartment especially since we don’t believe in him living with his girl friend. Are we wrong? I am so hurt that he is compromising his moral ethics. I pray that God will hear my prayers for guidance and to close/open doors of opportunity for our son. Thank you for listening.
Gayle, you are not wrong! Your son’s heart is honorable, but God is the provider, not him. As they look to Him and trust Him, He would provide for her to be protected without going against the Lord. I know this season is so hard, my friend. I have a son who is a sophomore in college. It is a time for trusting the Lord that all of the truth we have poured in will come back and produce a harvest!!! Lord, may our sons know that you are the way, the truth and the life and all life, true life, is found in being Your’s…wholly! Amen
Nice post!
So true, Lynn. Sometimes it’s just a matter of timing…His perfect timing. Great reminder.
Thanks Lynn! This message is just what I needed to hear at just the right time!!!
some time i feel like giving up. since like the more i pray .things get worst i have 5 girls. all grown but one she 15. well two of my girls is on drugs. and the more i pray to me it get worst . just last week one of them try to take her life.why do i feel like God is away from me?
please pray for my family.
Serease, I understand the pain you feel as a mother of broken children. As we praise God that He is in the process of drawing them to Himself, we trust that He is revealing to them that He is the way, the truth and the life. Today, someone told me that to make an omelet, you have got to crack some eggs. Some are just a lot harder to crack than others! Keep believing, friend!