I don’t know about you but everywhere I turn it seems as if people are going through some hard times. There are wars, rumors of wars, hate, a bad economy, sickness, disease, and people are losing their jobs and homes. The list goes on and on, doesn’t it? Around every corner you turn there seems to be, yet, another obstacle in the way, another mountain to climb, another river to forge. Perhaps you have asked the question that so many of us have asked, “When will I catch a break?” It’s a valid question that we can expect to be answered. Why? Because God will ALWAYS honor His Word!

The children of Israel always seem to bring encouragement to me. These were regular people, children of God like you and me, who experienced all sorts of joy and difficulties, and they certainly liked to complain! Sound like anyone you know? For years, these people had been in slavery to the Egyptians. They were beaten, forced to work in unreal conditions with impossible expectations, and to top it off, the king of Egypt ordered all of the newly born males to be killed as they were literally coming out of the womb. Enough was enough. The Israelites had finally reached their breaking point and they did what all of us do when the hard times come, they turned to God.

“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So, God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel and acknowledged them.” (Exodus 2: 23-25).

God heard their groaning and God remembered! It wasn’t that God had forgotten anything or that He was too busy, but I believe that He allowed the children of Israel to go through this season in order that they might finally come to a place of complete trust in Him. We have to be careful NOT to blame God for everything. Sometimes, it’s just life. The people of Israel did nothing to deserve the pain and punishment that they went through, but it happened and they, like us, said, “When will this be over. When will we catch a break. God, are you up there?”

Recently, I was laid off from my job of two years. This was my second layoff in the five years that I worked for this organization and my third total layoff in the past three years. When I look at my still unpaid school loans, credit card debt, car payment, doctor bills, etc. . .I, too, begin to feel that enough is enough. Is it wrong to feel that way? No. Is it wrong to just want to be in that “sweet spot” in life where you go to work feeling fulfilled and can pay your bills? No. Is it wrong to want the best for you and your family? No. In fact, God wants ALL of this for you and I. Trust me, I don’t understand why God allows certain things to happen and I don’t know why God keeps some of us in the potter’s hands longer than others. Bu, I have come to a place where I’m tired of trying to figure it out and maybe that’s exactly where I need to be. Maybe, just maybe, I haven’t fully given all of my cares and worries to God, or perhaps it’s just life. Who knows? Only God knows the “plans that He has for us.” (Jer. 29:11), and the reasons why.

There will come a time when the hard times will end. The bondage will be released, the Red Sea will part, and there will be rejoicing on the other side.

Until then, and I say this to encourage myself as much as I do you, take heart in knowing the following:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

And when you feel tired and read to quit:

“Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1).

Currently, I’m “in transit” and sometimes I’m not sure what to do with the waiting. Let the song below be an encouragement to you as it has been to me.

Enjoy the journey!