It’s amazing how the Lord speaks into our hearts through Scripture. I must have read Psalm 77 dozens of times over the years, yet never did it strike me so vividly as it did this week.
When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, they became trapped between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptians. Seeing the onslaught of charioteers at their backs, they must have feared they were goners. Yet, God, in His glory, parted the water like a curtain and made a dry path for them to cross. They couldn’t see Him, but He was there, guiding them safely through.
“Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.”
(Psalm 77:19) NIV
We’ve all experienced times in our lives when God seems silent or distant. When we find ourselves at an impasse, or going through an extremely difficult challenge and don’t know what to do. We pray and pray, but don’t get clear direction or help.
It’s then we wonder, Does God even care what I’m going through? Has He left me to fend for myself? Why won’t He answer?
Job once asked these questions, wondering why God seemed to abandon him when he needed Him most. In the end, God responded by declaring His wisdom and insight far outweigh our own. He sees the whole picture, not the one-dimensional view we have. Job saw only the pain he was undergoing; God knew the double portion of blessings that were soon to come his way.
Times of testing are sure to come. Our part is to pray and trust God will bring us through. When we submit our future, our ambitions, and everything we are to God, it allows Him to direct and redirect our purpose and ministry. As Christians, we need to strive to reach a point where we trust He is with us, working in our lives, no matter how far off He seems.
A clock in our home bares the poem, Footprints in the Sand, which speaks of how at some points in our lives, we can’t see God’s footprints alongside ours, when we feel alone and forgotten. But the poem goes on to say that it’s during these especially troubled times He carries us. What a beautiful picture of His great love for us!
Are you facing some trial in your life where you can’t see God’s footprints? What gives you the strength to endure? I’d love to hear your story!
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I need to remember, now more than ever, that God sees the future. Jesus gave His life for me, and God has promised Jesus will return. That’s what I focus on. Do good to all around me and tell them of His great love for me and for them.
Amen, Linda! Those are things we all need to be doing. Thanks for sharing.
I love that passage Cynthia! Trusting in the unseen God is a totally different relationship than what we are used to. Yet God requires this of us. It’s a challenge, yet something I strive for continuously. Deep inside people know there is something bigger and greater than mere humans and the earth we live in. God put it in our hearts to life our eyes up and see with eyes of faith. Thank you for your beautiful message. I sense that it is coming from a heart who has discovered that we can cling to the unseen God and He is more trustworthy than anything we can see!
Thank you, Laurie! Yes He is. In all my husband and I have been through over the past three years dealing with cancer, he Lord has never left our side. We are so grateful.