Broken For Building

Recently, as I contemplated the pros and cons of a major decision,  I was faced with a lot of anxiety and fear.  Every time we decide to move closer to God or to move closer the place God wants us to be, we encounter obstacles.  

As the Israelites made their escape from Egypt, they faced a major obstacle – being chased by Pharaoh and his armies.  I know you are not running from a physical person named Pharaoh, but all of us have a past, a past that forces us to deal with some real “stuff”- personal demons, family issues, dysfunctional relationships, rejection, guilt, incidents that we had no control over, (insert your Pharaoh here). 

There are so many Pharaohs chasing after us when we try to move forward, trying to keep us enslaved and tied up in bondage. Just like God wanted to bring the Israelites to a place of peace and prosperity, God wants to do the same for us. God is there to fight for us- to make sure that we get to our promise land. Reading Exodus 14:10-14 helped me to realize the following things:

1. Fear Is Always Present at the Brink of Your Breakthrough
As the Israelites, prepared to get away from their past which was full of pain, slavery, and hard times, they were afraid of what was ahead of them.  Fear is always present when we are at the brink of a breakthrough. Just when our deliverance, healing, blessing, help, and vision are within reach, fear creeps in. “What ifs” swim around us constantly. What if I succeed? What if I fail? What if I’m not accepted? What if this is worse than where I was? If we do not use the Word of God (God’s promises) as our weapon against fear, it stops us from moving forward.

2. Fear Will Make the Past Look Good
Don’t fall into this trap! Don’t get sucked into this idea that there was something better “back in the day” that perhaps you should go back to. The Israelites were good for reminiscing and making the past look like a great situation. Thank God that you are not where you were. Perhaps the past had some good times, but God has better in store for you.  The past keeps us going backwards, which means that we cannot grow, we cannot change, we cannot adapt new ways of thinking, we cannot move on. I want to move on. I don’t want to be hostage to the past. I don’t want to keep playing the same old memories in my head. I want God to give me a better story, a story that He orchestrates, directs, and oversees.

2. God Will Fight For You In the Process
This is the best part! God will fight for you as you enter your breakthrough and even as you go through to process of being prepared for your breakthrough..  I love verse 14. “The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.” The NLT Bible says “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” God is more than able to see you through all the changes and all the anxiety and all the concerns. Not only will he see you through, He will fight for you! He will go before you and make things happen for you. He will part seas just for you to walk through safely on dry land (Exodus 14: 15-29). He will handle the things you cannot see, the things you cannot control. 

I’ve always been someone who was big on standing up for myself and telling it like it is. I’ve been the “No one’s gonna run all over me girl.” But, thank God, He is showing me some things. I am not needed in every battle. My mouth is not always needed as a weapon in battle (see the ESV). I’m not saying that we are required to be Christian doormats, no not at all. But we are required to use wisdom in choosing which things need to be said and done and which things need to be left to God.

Lord, as I exit the past and enter the future, help me to release my battles to you. Help to release the people who have hurt me, the vengeance I so badly want to get, and the things that are beyond my control. Help me to lay my pride at your feet and allow you to be Jehovah Saboath – the Lord of Hosts – The Lord who controls and commands the hosts of armies in the heavens and the earth on my behalf. Fight all the battles I will face on the way to my breakthrough.