“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)
Two weeks ago I talked about anniversaries and how instead of greeting the first Monday in January with fear, I was peaceful because God reminded me that He knew the circumstances of my “new year” long before I was even born. Even more than that, He knew the outcome and how He was going to take care of me and my family.
I planned to spend Monday, January 4, 2016, taking care of me. Instead of jumping right back into work with both feet, I was going to take that day and organize, respond to emails, work a little on some writing projects that God has been nudging me to focus on, and just ease into my routine, in a quiet house, without my children’s chaos in the background that I absolutely love. If they could stay home every day, While they were glad to go back and see their friends, I was going to just take the time to be thankful for my employment and cross off many things from my too long “to do” list.
Six hours later, I didn’t have much progress to show except that I’d received two whammies instead of the one whammy dealt last year. I jokingly told my husband that next year I was cancelling the first Monday in January since the third time you either strike out or it’s a charm and I wasn’t going to find out which it would be. These whammies are more of an indirect hit on our family, but the resulting blow would still be significant. I prayed, reminding God that He gave me the word “peace” this year for a reason – the peace that comes from Him despite our circumstances, not from the circumstances themselves. God reminded me of the promise He gave me the week before: He knew what news would be received on Monday, January 4th, before I was born. He also knows the outcome. God also gave me an amazing husband who reminds me of these truths and talks me down when worry tries to creep back in. I can either trust God or I can try and fix it myself. His wisdom or mine? I knew what answer I was choosing.
The next morning, I started out praying the promise of the above verse. God gave me that verse in the spring of 2014, right before our family stepped into a time of testing. I started praying it again, reminding myself that God is fighting the Egyptians in our life for us. I don’t have to fight. I just have to name the Egyptians I want God to take care of for me, take my hands off and go about completing what He has called me to do. Then I can watch and see what He is going to do, while listening for His whispers in case He gives me a new assignment.
I asked Him a question: “Lord, why does it seem as though there are always Egyptians?” Come back next time and find out how God answered me.
© Cheri Swalwell 2016