“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’’” (Exodus 14:1-3 ESV)
The Egyptian army was behind them. The Red Sea before them.
God’s plan to free the Israelites from Pharaoh’s rule and slavery did not always make sense to His people.
After ten plagues, blood instead of water, fleas, frogs, boils and their entire eco-system turned upside down, Egypt was a wasteland. When the last plague killed every eldest son, the Egyptians could hardly wait to rid themselves of the Israelites.
But God led the Israelites into a trap where they could neither go forward nor backward.
“And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.’ And they did so.” (Exodus 14:4 ESV)
While the Israelites saw no way of escape, God had another plan. Unseeable and glorious.
I too have stood at pathways incongruent and wondered how I got there, and how to get out. I’ve wrestled in my tunnel that had no end as I sat beside a hospital bed, when finances dwindled, or a relationship soured. I have chafed under a plan I couldn’t understand, and in my despair, I’ve recognized a Father perfect in everything He does.
Much like the Israelites sandwiched between slices of certain death, life with its seasons and changes leads us many times to stand in difficult forks. Desperate we search for quick fixes, something to calm our spirits and solve our problems, to bring freedom from the trap in which we stand. But often, the bandages we apply actually short circuit the greater work God wants to do.
Because it is in those difficult places God demonstrates what we would never have known otherwise. In desperate places we learn that sometimes God has other plans. And it is often in God’s other plans we discover the truths of character and find Him infinitely Good.In desperate places we discover God has other plans. Share on X
It is in that space of letting go of our own way that God builds our trust in Him above all else. In-between the prayer and God’s answer He strengthens weak hearts. He pours the balm of grace and mercy into our wounds. And sometimes when there seems no answer, He teaches us to wait in hope. For one day we will see Jesus face to face, and the torment of our present trials will either make sense or they won’t matter. We will be with Him. And what can possibly compare?
The Israelites turned against Moses, they whined and complained. They figured it would have been better to die in their Egyptian slavery than in the wilderness. They didn’t have eyes of faith to believe that although they couldn’t see it, God had another plan. They forgot His miracles. They didn’t trust His promises.
But God was about to display His decisive power. It would be something they would tell their children, and their children would tell their children, and on and on. It would build faith for centuries and millennia.
The seas opened. An entire nation of people walked through on dry land. God conquered the enemy.
I look for a path through the seas now, when I stand at the water’s edge, yet can’t quite see to the other side. I want to stand firm like an 80-year-old Moses with a staff held high in his hand. Regardless of outcomes, I want to trust God to part the waters with His perfect plan.
God’s other plans lead us to deeper faith which proves Him in little everyday trials as well as the ones so difficult they steal our breath away. Years behind testify His plans are best. Waters ahead promise again and again God’s plan is greater than my vision.
“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV)
He maps what I can’t imagine with purposes bigger than deep seas and longer than thousands of timelines.
It is good to stand here on flat dirt, with years and experience chasing some of my old ambitions to dust, while ahead…oh who knows the miracles which still wait ahead.
Gina Castell
I’ve been going through a minor health problem. Out of nowhere I have allergies that lead to cellulitis. I’ve been to the doctor three times in two weeks. I’m a terrible patient. I have been complaining, but this really spoke to me. I love the summer. I love being in the sun and I can’t because of the meds I’m on. I feel like the enemy is stealing my favorite thing, but who knows what God is doing. I look forward to your blog every week. ❤️ G
Sylvia Schroeder
Gina, I’m not a good patient either (hate to think it has to do with my “patience,” but there we are…). I’m sorry about the health issues, and yet so grateful that God can take something so discouraging and use it to encourage our spiritual growth. I do hope this summer turns out to be a great blessing for you!
Stacy Edmond
Sylvia,
I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have read your blog post this morning. The timing of it is absolutely a divine placement.
The Lord speaking through you.
I have been walking through a very hard, dark season for the last several years with my oldest son who was a High School honors student and band captain with a full scholarship to college. A believer who was sharing the Gospel with his atheist roommate in their first year of college.
In the subsequent years, he began to try various drugs to cope with life’s pressures, and by his senior year started exhibiting mental health issues. The subsequent 4 years have brought psychotic episodes, homelessness, the birth of a son with his high school sweetheart, their eventual breakup, his arrest, and now, sitting in a county Jail for nearly a year and a half awaiting “mental health rehabilitation” in a local psychiatric hospital.
He has been repeatedly beaten and assaulted, and despite months and months of attempting to get him into a better situation than what the jail system allows in our state, there continues to be one dead end after another.
I have endured some very dark times in my life, but this has been the hardest thus far. Leaning on the Lord and trusting that His thoughts and ways are much better than mine has been very challenging at times. He has been faithfully leading, teaching, walking with and sustaining me all along though, and my faith is growing deeper in ways I did not and probably would not have understood before all of this.
I have learned that God loves my son more than even I do and is doing so much more than I can see or understand and I must trust that.
Your beautiful blog post was such a reminder from the Lord.
Thank you for sharing!
This is the first time I have commented on one of your blog posts, but I enjoy reading them each time you publish.
Thank you for your godly wisdom and encouragement.
Always such a blessing.
Sylvia Schroeder
Stacy, I am so grateful that God could use this post to encourage you. I am so so saddened by your son’s journey and will pray with you for him. I know that God uses such deep trials in much bigger ways than we can see, and I pray that His purposes will be accomplished to bring Him glory. I am so very glad that God does indeed love your son so very much and is trustworthy in everything He does.
Sue Kroeker
Thank you, Sylvia for reminding me to turn my eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful Face!!
Sylvia Schroeder
I can hear you play that on the piano in my mind! Thanks Sue!
Don Pahl
Israel had expectations … a quick jaunt in the desert, on to milk and honey.
Perhaps our heightened expectations – after all, am I not God’s child? – lead to more disappointments.
“He maps what I can’t imagine!” you wrote. Thanks for the reminder to focus on that rather than our faulty expectations .
Sylvia Schroeder
So true Don. There are so many things that God needs to peel away from my expectations so that I can see His blessings.
Lorelei
“He maps what I can’t imagine with purposes bigger than deep seas and longer than thousands of timelines.
It is good to stand here on flat dirt, with years and experience chasing some of my old ambitions to dust, while ahead…oh who knows the miracles which still wait ahead.” Really love meditating on the fact that he has bigger purposes than we’re able to see in the moment. And, yes, knowing there are miracles ahead! Thanks, dear Sylvia, for faithfully giving us spiritual food.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Lorelei. Bigger purposes are so very difficult to see in the moment. May our days be filled with thankful hearts as we anticipate something greater!
Sue
Thank you!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Sue! I appreciate knowing you enjoyed it!
Bill Denig
Here’s someone I follow who’s starting a church plant in Rome. He also took over his father’s publishing company in Rome.
Sylvia Schroeder
Thanks Bill! I knew his parents in Rome!
Pita
I praised God for your wonderful writing that has blessed me many times. God reminded me again through your post that I need to focus on Him and his blessings despites all the troubles that I have been facing. Many plans didn’t go as I wished this summer. My husband didn’t get the job that he was praying for and on top of that he got some health issues that we had to cancel the trip we planned for the family in exchange for the medical treatment. However, the Holy Spirit, the devotional and also your blog have been teaching me that God’s plan is always better. He challenged me to stay having a thankful heart instead of complaining like the Isralites. Thank you again for writing and God bless you!
Sylvia Schroeder
Thank you so much Pita! I am honored that God would use it!