Remember the Promise

Exodus 5-6

The most difficult days of my life were raising sons (usually alone as my husband spent more time deployed than at home).  There were times when I just did not think that God would ever deliver them or me from the rough teen and early adult years.  Talk about a wilderness experience!  Not sure where to go, what to do, restless, hungry and thirsty for a little peace in their lives and mine.  Would we ever get to a place where we (they) would know the presence of God?  Would we ever get to a place where there was even a few moments of peace within ourselves?  Life got pretty rough to say the least.  But, God's promises did not diminish, only my hope in those promises.  I turned to scripture constantly in order to stay engulfed in thos promises.  I particularly spent a lot of time repeating to myslef His promise found in Isaiah 54:13-14:

     All your children will be taught by the LORD,
        and great will be their peace.
     In righteousness you will be established:
     Tyranny will be far from you;
        you will have nothing to fear.
     Terror will be far removed;
        it will not come near you.

It wasn't an easy journey, but God helped us through that wilderness to a better place. He taught all of us much.  I came through it with a greater understanding of the peace that God gives. But, I do not think I would be able to live in that peace now, if it had not been for the trying times. 

God is using Moses to deliver the Israelites.  But, before he does, life gets harder - much harder.  Under the even harsher edicts of Pharoah, they seem to have lost hope in the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  They speak against Moses, who has been sent by God to deliver them from bondage.  They want freedom, for sure.  But, they don't want to sacrifice anything more than they've already sacrificed.  They would prefer bondage than to risk their lives for a chance at freedom. 

Life in this world can indeed be rough.  The journey is not always easy.  It is imperative that we stay steeped in God's Word - so that when we find ourselves suffering and suffocating in bondage - we will be able to continue in faith in the hope of God's promises for all God's people.  A friend of mine posted on her FB the other day something to the effect that if all is not well, then you haven't completed the journey, yet. (I looked for the quote again, but could not find it.) 

When your journey is rough, may God bring to your remembrance, his promises of good for you and all His people.