Have you ever been in a situation where you felt trapped? Saw no way out? Or your back was against the wall? Have you ever wondered why God was allowing something scary or painful to happen in your life? Or have you ever prayed and wondered why God wasn’t answering? Or if He was even listening at all?
Well, this is a classic element in the life of the believer. But the Bible has a lot to say about God’s power and sovereignty, about prayer, about trusting in God and waiting on Him.
You see, worry seems as inherent as breathing. A simple Google search revealed these statistics…
- Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year.
- Anxiety disorders affect nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States. Women are more than twice as likely as men to get an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.
- The prevalence of anxiety disorders across the world varies from 2.5 to 7 percent by country. Globally an estimated 284 million people experienced an anxiety disorder in [2017] recent years, making it the most prevalent mental health disorder worldwide.
In one sense…
How can you not worry, after all, when a recent pandemic changed our world so drastically? How can you not worry, when your debts exceed your income? And the creditors are calling?
How can you not worry, when you or your loved one is diagnosed with cancer? Or Alzheimer’s?
How can you not worry, when your child or family member walks away from his or her faith?
How can you not worry, when your job is terminated, or the rent is increased, or your safety is at stake?
Yet did you know…
The Bible actually addresses this anxious dynamic in our lives… read Exodus 14:1-31.
- Moses and the Israelites left Egypt in chaos after the Passover.
- God did NOT take them on the shortest route from Egypt to the Promised Land (13:17).
- God Himself led them through the desert and told them where to camp by the sea.
- And they were trapped on the beach once Pharaoh decided to pursue them!
I want you to think about what you worry about, or what makes you afraid? Or concerned right now. Are you in a situation now that you cannot see how you’re ever going to get out of it?
In his small book, The Red Sea Rules, Pastor Robert J. Morgan writes about the story in Exodus 14 and came up with “10 God-Given Strategies for Difficult Times.” For example…
Rule #1 Realize that God means for you to be where you are (Exodus 14:1-2)
- Don’t miss the fact that God led the Israelites to that exact place at that exact time. The unmistakable implication of Exodus 14:1-2 is that the Lord purposely led them into peril. He gave them specific, step-by-step instructions of where to go, leading them down a route to apparent ruin.
- The Lord occasionally does the same with us, testing our faith, leading us into hardship, teaching us wisdom, showing us His ways. Our first reaction may be a surge of panic and a sense of alarm, but we must learn to trust Him and consult the Scriptures for guidance.
- So, take a deep breath and recall this deeper secret… when you are in a difficult place, realize that the Lord either placed you there or allowed you to be there, for reasons perhaps known for now only to Himself [italics original] (page 6).
Rule #2 Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief. (Exodus 14:3-4)
- Our natural inclination during fearful and stressful situations is to try to get out of them as soon as possible. However, the next time you’re overwhelmed, instead of asking, “How can I get out of this mess?” try asking, “How can God be glorified in this situation?” (21).
- If it is true that “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37), then keep in mind He loves to devise ways of turning difficulties into deliverances and problems into praise.
- Admittedly, the Lord doesn’t always deliver us from our problems in the way we want him to. He does it in His way, but in the long run His way is always best. Recognizing that should lead us to worship and praise.
Rule #3 Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord. (Exodus 14:5-9)
Consider the possibility that you might be in a spiritual battle and not even realize it (Eph. 6:12).
Rule #4 Pray! (Exodus 14:10)
- There is an old saying that God never gives us more than we can handle. Don’t believe it! That is taking 1 Corinthians 10:13 out of context. God most certainly does give us more than we can handle — specifically so that we have to depend on Him! In fact, Matthew Henry once said, “God brings us into straits so that He may bring us to our knees.”
- “When we can’t press forward, move sideward, or step backward, it’s time to look upward and ask God to make a way… Notice how the Israelite’s prayer in Exod. 14:10-12 was not a religious ritual. They were panicked, and their outburst of prayer was raw and real. Ours should be, too.
- When you feel impossible odds… pray urgently! And trust in God to help in time of need.
Rule #5 Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work. (Exodus 14:13-14)
“But Moses told the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the Lord rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. You won’t have to lift a finger in your defense!” (NLT) (or, “You need only to be still” NIV)
- This is what the biblical phrase “wait on the Lord” is about: committing our Red Sea situations to God in prayer, trusting Him, and waiting for Him to work… If you’re in a difficult place right now, perhaps you need to entrust the problem to the Lord and leave it in His hands for a while (57). [ see also Psalm 37:7 and Psalm 46:10 ]
Rule #6 When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith. (Exodus 14:15)
- Some believe that God did not open the Red Sea all at once, but progressively as the Israelites moved forward. This way, they had to trust Him for every step. Some believe God never gives guidance for two steps at a time. We must take one step, and then get light for the next. This keeps us in dependence on Him.
- Robert Morgan wrote, “Whenever I have not known what to do, I’ve just tried to do what comes next, to take the next logical step by faith. I’ve decided that sometimes plodding is better than plotting when it comes to finding God’s will” (69).
- When you don’t know what to do next, cast out fear and seek light for the next step. Trust God for guidance in small increments; and if you can’t see what lies dimly in the distance, do what lies clearly at hand. Trust God to lead you one step at a time.
I’m going to stop there and encourage you to pick up pastor Morgan’s book if you want to know the other four strategies…
So, in conclusion… God doesn’t always change our circumstances to make things easy for us. In fact, sometimes quite the opposite. He might have orchestrated your circumstances for a reason beyond your grasp or understanding.
Yet we don’t have to be afraid. Fear Not! Throughout the bible God repeatedly tells us that he loves us and cares for us, and that He will be there through it all with us.
So maybe we need to stay calm, trust in God more, and leave it in His hands to do what only He can do! Be still and know that I am God! (Psalm 46:10)
