Sometimes God’s faithfulness is easiest to see when we look backward instead of forward. We’ve all heard the saying “Don’t look back, you’re not going that way,” and I agree with the sentiment of that statement. It is really unhealthy wallow in the past. But I’ve found that reflecting on the past can give you hope for the future, because no matter what’s happening, good or bad, you are still here. God has blessed you with another day of life, so you have at least one thing to be thankful for.
I believe that when you reflect on your past with the right mindset it can help you recognize God’s glory, grace and faithfulness in your life. I know personally that I wouldn’t be sharing this post with you today if it weren’t for His grace and faithfulness towards me. In seasons when I was lonely, stressed and depressed; where I wanted to give up, because I couldn’t see how things would get any better, He rescued me. I can only see that now by looking at the past and what He’s brought me through. So I encourage you to let your past, those trials you’ve been through, be your fuel to remind you that He is always faithful.
Rescue from your situation might seem delayed, but God is always right on time. In Exodus, God asks Moses to do something really hard - speak to Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites go. Moses expected, like we probably would in that situation, that because he trusted God and was obedient, even though he was scared, that God’s rescue of His people would be immediate, but it wasn’t. “So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, ‘Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me? Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven’t rescued your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23
Moses had followed God’s instructions. He had even convinced a whole lot of people to trust him. (Exodus 4:28-31) So now everyone is all excited and then…….crickets. Nothing, they are stuck in the same situation. Or at least that’s what I’m guessing it felt like when Moses put his reputation on the line and convinced the people and confronted Pharaoh and then their rescue didn’t come.
I know I’ve felt like that. Have you? You do everything you think you’re supposed to do and things just don’t change. Then we wonder where God is. Has he forgotten us? Has He forgotten that we’ve cried out to Him to rescue us? But like Moses, sometimes I forget God is always faithful to His promises.
Moses had forgotten what God had told him. That it wouldn’t be easy, because He was going to harden Pharaoh’s heart. “The Lord instructed Moses, ‘When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he won’t let the people go.” Exodus 4:21 Did you catch that? God told Moses to do something that he is already scared to do (Exodus 4:10-13) AND He puts roadblocks up that will make it harder!
“God is faithful, but that doesn’t mean your situation is going to be easy.”
Instead of giving up and completely losing faith, Moses cried out to the Lord and God reassured Him that His plan was still in motion and that He hasn’t forgotten His promise. (Exodus 6:1-8) Now Moses is reassured and tries to get the Israelites on board but they won’t listen to him anymore because they are completely discouraged. They have a “broken spirit.” (Exodus 6:9) But we know how this story ends. Moses keeps being obedient and keeps following God’s instructions and eventually after ten plagues, Pharaoh let’s the Israelites go.
Praise the Lord that our brokenness and discouragement does not stop God’s faithfulness. So take some time to reflect on your past. What situations has the Lord brought you through? Remember, your obstacles are God’s tools that He uses to fulfill His plan. His plan for you is good, so they may be painful lessons, heartbreaking moments or what felt like overwhelming struggles, but through it all He has been faithful.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
He continues to wake you up each morning, granting new mercies, like your ability to read this blog post right now. He has not abandoned you. You can keep going. He will give you the strength you need. Don’t take for granted the little things each day that God uses to remind you that you’re loved and blessed. Our God is faithful. You can count on Him.
How has He been faithful to you today?
Jamila is the founder of loved+blessed. On her personal mission to leave a legacy of encouragement, she blogs about her own life lessons with the hope that it will bring joy into others’ lives and help them find the courage to keep walking in faith knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord. Read her testimony of how God turned her misery into ministry.
