Devotion – Are we there yet?

‘The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged’ (Deuteronomy 31:8).

People are generally familiar with the question, often repeatedly asked by children on long car journeys, ‘Are we there yet?’ A parent’s response might be tempered by several factors, including distance yet to go, how many times the question has already been asked, and the general mood in the vehicle. Inevitably though, a degree of frustration usually sets in.

I’ve been thinking about Moses and the people of Israel after they left Egypt. Even before it was determined that they would spend another 40 years in the desert, there were a lot of big feelings happening – frustration, worry, anxiety, and a desire to go back to what was recognisable. The fear of the unknown. Sound familiar?

And yet time and again, God showed them that he was their faithful guide, provider and protector. They just needed to learn that.

It is interesting to note that after everything, when Moses was handing the reins over to Joshua, who had witnessed for himself God’s faithfulness, Moses implored him to remember that God was with him, so he didn’t need to be afraid or discouraged.

In the present circumstance, we might ask, ‘Are we there yet?’, but experts aren’t able to answer with what we want to hear. Our journey through these present challenges has no fixed end date. We are in uncharted territory. Plans that once served us well don’t work where we are now, and when we come through this, life will look different.

But be assured, God is with us, at every stage. And we will get there yet!

Dear faithful God, thank you that you are our guide, provider and protector, through these uncertain days and beyond. You will get us there! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer Points

• We pray that God will help us to trust Him to guide us through this current challenging journey

• We pray for patience to cope with the impacts of coronavirus

• We give thanks for the positives and opportunities that have arisen through the difficult times we face

• We pray for the Inme, Joseph and Kawngno families