Option Two
Tuesday, November 21
Option Two
And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth? Exodus 33:15-16
As we touched on yesterday, Moses recognized the impossibility of his task without the Lord’s presence, understanding that it would determine the outcome of their journey. In response to Moses’ request, the Lord assures Moses with a promise: “I will do this thing also that you have asked, for you have found favor, loving-kindness, and mercy in My sight, and I know you personally and by name” (Exodus 33:17).
When faced with challenges, we confront two choices along our paths. We can opt to walk the road with the Lord’s presence, or we may attempt to navigate it in our own strength.
Option two is to become stiff-necked, as the Israelites did on many occasions and the results are written in God’s Word for us to learn from. We can openly refuse the Lord’s help, presence and advice. We can opt to walk the road with the Lord’s presence, or we may attempt to navigate it in our own strength. We can allow our anger and self-pity to push the Lord away from us and consequently fill our minds with lies about who God actually is. Sometimes pride also comes in the way of us seeking help and advice. We tend to think everyone will judge us, everyone is against us, or even worse someone will tell. The enemy will feed into these lies and you find yourself walking away. This option will only end up postponing the Lord’s plan for our lives and cause us to become bitter and angry. Worship and praise will no longer have a place in our lives. It becomes a very lonely way of dealing with challenges.
Today I encourage you to stick with trusting the Lord. By choosing to trust the Lord, we actually notice His daily encouragement as we battle through the challenge we’re facing. He’s closer than we’ll ever imagine when we’re hurting. He sends people along our paths to encourage and uplift us. He speaks to us in so many different ways; if only we choose to walk the road with His presence as our main focus. It’s a choice to focus on the Lord’s promises and presence. This brings His peace into our lives. Every time our situation becomes overwhelming, we can shift our focus on to His provision and care; not on to the details that seem to have no hope of an outcome. He’ll never let us down.
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, You know the challenges I’m currently facing, and the fears that grip me. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, and I don’t know how to navigate through the day. Yet today, I choose to walk this road with You. Even when my emotions falter, I choose to hold on to You. I trust You to guide me through this and to weave all things for good. Your presence infuses hope into my life, and for that, I am grateful. Amen.