In the face of disappointment (3)

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord. Once again we look at Exodus 15v20-27 (New Living Translation) in considering what to do amid disappointment.

“Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. And Miriam sang this song: “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously; He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.” Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”). Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to Him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, obeying His commands and keeping all His decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” After leaving Marah, the Israelites traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water.”

Beloved, let us learn to talk things over with the Lord. Psalm 62v8 (New International Version) says “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” In the middle of perceived disappointment, let us deepen our relationship with God. He is our comfort, strength, shield, and shelter in time of trouble. It is in difficult times, in our weakness and vulnerabilities, in our trials that His strength is made perfect. In our text above, Moses cried out to the Lord while the children of Israel murmured. Moses was someone whom God said I talk to him as a friend to a friend (Exodus 33v11; Numbers 12v8). How much more we who are sons of God, children of God. Let us act like children. Children draw near, they do not run far. People send children to speak to their parents on their behalf because they know that children have access that others do not. Importantly, when we are confused and uncertain about things and don’t even have the words, let your spirit speak to God by praying in tongues by the help of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14v2 (The Living Bible) says “But if your gift is that of being able to “speak in tongues,” that is, to speak in languages you haven’t learned, you will be talking to God but not to others, since they won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be a secret.”

Prayer

Father we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for the access and boldness we have to approach Your throne of grace by the blood of Jesus. We thank You for the sonship that You have conferred on us. Father, we pray that we will be more intimate with You, that we will draw near in the face of disappointment, troubles, trials and pour out our heart to You. Help us O Lord in Jesus name, amen.