“Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery” (EX 6.9).
God had promised Israel deliverance from the crushing weight of Pharaoh’s cruel fist and their hopes had soared. Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh, demanding Israel’s release. But instead of letting them go, he turns the screws even tighter, intensifying Israel’s cruel slavery.
God again promises to deliver them, but this time Israel doesn’t listen because Pharaoh’s brutality had broken their spirits.
The Scripture above teaches us that sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. But that doesn’t mean God has abandoned us. It means he’s setting the stage to gain even more glory and give us even greater joy than if he answered our prayers right away. How stunning was his rescue of Israel from Egypt! How astounding was Jesus’ rescue of us from our death and sins. Just when all looks lost, Jesus comes bursting forth from the grave!
Often in superb dramas, things get increasingly impossible for a character before a sudden and glorious rescue. He’s knocked unconscious only to awake strapped to railroad tracks. A train whistle blows in the distance. He struggles, only tightening the knots. Now we see smoke. The train rounds the corner, bearing down. The extremity of the character’s peril makes his escape that much more incredible.
We must keep trusting God’s promises, even when things go from bad to worse.
We must seek his grace to keep our spirits from being broken. We must keep asking him to fulfill his promises and keep thanking him that he’ll help us.
But even when our faith wanes, God is patient and longsuffering! Even though Israel didn’t listen to Moses in their discouragement, God still rescued them. Sometimes trials crush believers so much they struggle to believe God’s promises. Just as God bore with Israel’s weakness, we should bear with our brothers’ and sisters’ weakness.
So let’s be patient with the weak in faith, and pray for them and encourage them. And if you are in the cooker and things have gone from hot to boiling, remember, sometimes it gets worse before it gets better – for God’s glory and your joy.
photo by Amymillerphotos
This was very encouraging and VERY timely for me. Thank you!
Mark, i really don’t like to hear this and i really don’t like to be living this. I’ve spent many nights thinking it couldn’t get worse, only to wake and find new trial awaiting me the next morning. Its easy to look there and despair. Its easy to see the waves and lose all hope.
But God doesn’t end there, so neither should I. He was reminding me yesterday during worship at my church that in spite of my weak faith, He is faithful. In spite of my doubts and questioning, He is good and abounding in steadfast love that will never ever change. And even when I in my sin run from Him, He is constantly and lovingly holding me safe in Him.
when circumstances are too much, its so encouraging to remember we live upheld by a God that is all powerful, all wise and all loving. thanks for the reminder. i needed to hear that this morning.
Hey Mark,
Great reminder today, You are right about things getting worse before they get better. I have found that to be true in my life, I have also found that your latter comments about God being faithful and able to rescue to be true as well. He is fully able to pull us from the fire but chooses to leave us in to grow us and to make us more like Christ, He sees things so much fuller and deeper than i could even imagine. I’m finding that He is very faithful and very good even in the midst of trials, even when things get worse! He is working all things for our good, even the crappy things that we experience in our lives.
Thanks for yet another very encouraging post today…I needed this today!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hey, Mark — Our pastor just said yesterday, “Yeah, it’s Friday … but Sunday’s coming!” Jesus’ crucifixion/resurrection weekend was a colossal picture of life itself. Thanks for reminding us of our hope, even on the Fridays!
Hi Wendy,
I’m so grateful the Lord would use this to encourage you!
Hey Emily,
Jesus is powerfully working in your life. In your comments there’s a lot of faith being expressed, which is so glorifying to the Lord. Keep clinging to the Almighty One!
Hey Ron,
You are so right, Jesus sees our trials in ways we can’t fathom, and he knows what he’s doing in making us like him. Yes, he is ALWAYS working for our good.
Amen, Don! Sunday’s coming! I like that!
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To God be the Glory. Thanks for the encouraging words.
Hey L.P. – I’m grateful the Lord would encourage you through the post. Thanks.