subject: Are we there yet? [print this page] With great excitement I jump out of bed and get ready for the long trip ahead of us. The children are dressed and the car packed. We are ready to go and enjoy ourselves on a well-deserved family vacation and as we turn the street I hear Are we there yet?' Without thinking I turn to my son with harsh words of For heaven's sake, we have barely left the house and already you are complaining? What is it with you, are you never satisfied?'
Before I can continue my tirade, I have a flash of what it feels like for God whenever we ask Him for help. The history of the Israelites living in Egypt comes to mind. It is recorded in Exodus 12 that the Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years. During this time they were bound to slavery and harsh conditions under the Egyptian rule.
When we find ourselves in a predicament we cry out to God for help. And in God's perfect time He will answer us by improving our situation, whether it is an overnight change or a daily change. However, even when things are changing for the better we don't see that. God first has to clean us out and get us into better shape but we don't have the patience to go through the motions.
When God puts us on a journey He does not leave our sides. Even if He moves you from a country or your comfort zone. The Israelites were oppressed but they were in a comfort zone. We do the same. We complain about our oppressed lives but the minute God moves us out we complain about leaving our comfort zone behind. God is always with us. We read in Exodus that by day the Lord went ahead of the Israelites in a cloud, and a pillar of fire by night. That pillar never left its place from the people.
God gave them signs along the way that He is with them, but that was not enough. When the Israelites saw the Egyptians marching towards them they did the only human thing known to all of us. They attacked Moses with words of We told you to leave us in Egypt. Did you bring us to the desert to die?' We are never satisfied. The Promised Land was lying ahead of them but the Israelites was of the opinion that they would be better off if they stayed in Egypt.
What has God called you to do? Did He give you a vision or a prophecy? Have you climbed out of the boat yet to walk towards your destiny or are you going to sit there and wait for a better day?
Are you there yet? Some time ago I experienced a challenging time in my finances. My immediate reaction was to fight with God, wanting to know what is going on, don't I do enough for the gospel. Why do I have to go through these challenges? This is just not fair and like a naughty child I would stomp through the rest of my day, muttering to myself about the unfairness of life. All the while my husband was patiently observing this from a distance. When it got to the point of no return he finally reminded me of a prayer I prayed in which I asked God to please mould me and change me to fit into His perfect will and plan. Although I prayed this, according to my standards God was taking too long and I took matters into my own hands and the minute my plans started failing, I blamed God and wanted to know WHY AM I NOT THERE YET?
David knew he was going to become king, but first he had to face the Goliath in his life. Joseph knew that he would rule one day but first he had to climb out of the pit and then also be released from jail! We ask God for His divine intervention and as God starts changing us and our situation, we ask Are we there yet?'
The people in the know did calculations and determined that the exodus from Egypt and the journey to the Promised Land should last approximately 14 days. However, every time the Israelites started complaining and asking questions like are we there yet?' the goal posts moved.
We still have not learned the lesson. We get impatient with God and take back our problems from Him within minutes of handing it to Him. We try and out-think and outsmart God.
We start the walk in our calling and as soon as the first test hits us, we back down and walk one more time around the mountain. It is time for a change of scenery. It is time you come out of the desert. It is hot and dusty in the desert!
There is no 10 step plan to follow only a simple yet effective rule. Be content and God will promote you in His perfect time because He loves you.
