Wow, 2020! What a year and 2021 looks similar. A virus, quarantining, no work, no toilet paper, sickness, death, plus political division. All of this has brought fear, discouragement, hopelessness, separation from family and friends, and loneliness. How do we get through this?

For me, its been getting into God's Word. While reading in Exodus and Numbers, I see where the Israelites cried out to God to be free from slavery.  God hears them and sends Moses.  As Moses learns to obey and trust Gods direction, He leads them out of Egypt and into the promise land.  At times, the Israelites moaned, groaned and lost there trust in God.  Moses would go before God for guidance and God would do miraculous things to show the Israelites that He was still with them. Because of their disobedience and unbelief they wandered in the desert for forty years.  It took 40 years for the Israelites to stop moaning and put there trust in Him.  For us, 40 years seems like a long time, but in God's eyes its a split second, if his purpose is fulfilled.  God kept His promise as they reach the promised Land.  

In 1 Kings:17-18, after years of sinful leadership, God used a man named Elijah to turn the Israelites back to Himself.  At that time King Ahab, who by his wife's request, killed most all of Gods prophets. The Israelites were worshiping other gods and idols.  So because of this, Elijah shows up and tells them no rain will fall for several years. The rain will not come again until I come back before you. God then sends Elijah to a place called Cherith. This place is so desolate, that no humans could inhabit it. It's rocky and had bad soil. But there was a small brook for water and God supplied food delivered by Ravens. He was here for 18 months. This time was for Elijah to grow and trust God completely. God then sent Elijah onto another place for more lessons and growth, in order for him to gain complete trust and obedience in Yahweh.  After three years passed Elijah returns to face Ahab. They go to Mt. Carmel to prove who's God is stronger.  God instructs Elijah what to do and say. 1 Kings 18:36 and 37 says that Elijah PRAYED; "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, let it be known today that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command v.37, answer me O Lord, answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord are God and that you are turning their hearts back to you".  The Lord answered with fire which came down and consumed the sacrifice, every bit of it. The people fell face down to the ground and said God is Lord.  God kept His promised and the rain came down.

After reading these accounts in the Bible, the Lord has shown me, that I too have choices. Do I moan and groan or trust and obey His leading, even in the hard times?  I'm tired of moaning and feeling there is no hope. Because there is in the Lord!  God has promised us victory.

We may not see it or even feel it, but God always keeps His promises.

He has shown that to us throughout the Bible. Lets lean into God together,

Let's learn to believe and apply His promises to ourselves. Let's have Him guide us through these tough days and be our hope. God created us. He loves us. He sent his Son to die for us. God is here with us. Rest in Him. We may not see it today, but we will see tomorrow His promises to be fulfilled!

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