Are you in a wilderness?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end. Deuteronomy 8:16

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Three categories of people are reading this: those in trouble; those just getting out of trouble; and those who are going into trouble. Job 14:1 says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”

The Spanish have a proverb: “There’s no home without its hush.” Sooner or later, we will all know heartache and trouble. Troubles are not a sign that things have gone wrong or things gotten out of hand. We are often in trouble by the providence, plan, and purpose of Almighty God.

When the Israelites were delivered from Pharaoh’s army through the Red Sea, they went into the wilderness. Had God lost control? No. God led them there by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

You don't have to know the future, you just have to walk in the Spirit. If God in His providence brings you to a place of bitterness, it’s to show you that the same God who brought the Israelites through the Red Sea is the One who will be enough for you. Right over the horizon there’s an oasis for you, but He has a lesson He wants you to learn first: that He's enough. God wants to bless you, but He will never let the victories take the place of Himself. He will bring you to a wilderness where you’ll learn that He is enough to sweeten the bitter waters of life.

ACTION POINT:

The wilderness is God’s proving ground for your faith. How are you doing?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers