Finding Joy in Your Journey

The camel in this picture does not look too enthused about the long desert journey before him. He is a camel, however, and camels live in deserts. They travel well through the long, dry desert making for excellent transportation. They serve their masters well. We face many long journeys in our life that lack enthusiasm. Maybe it started out being exciting, but a few steps into it, and the journey wasn't what we had hoped it would be. Consider the Israelites in Egypt. Their deliverer, Moses, a prefigure of Christ, enters their lives of horrid slavery. He promises them deliverance. Against all odds, they are free to leave their land of slavery for a promised land of milk and honey. The journey would take between two and three weeks. No sooner did they leave with this great milk and honey prize to look forward to, when Pharaoh's army chases them with their chariots of rage. Immediately they complain to Moses: "What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?' (note...they cried of their misery as slaves earlier) It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Exodus 14:11-12 But God would not let them die. He is a promise keeper and he had a lot to show them in their journey. He had Moses raise his staff at the Red Sea. The waters miraculously parted and they crossed. When Pharaoh's chariots crossed after them, the Sea closed up drowning the Israelites long time enemy. This was one of many miracles the Israelites would witness. Their short journey would turn into 40 long years because of their grumbling and disobedience. Every journey has an end. So many times we want to take the short route. Instant results and gratification is what we think we want. But what would that teach us? We would become bored and want something bigger and better. We would not be mature for that bigger and better thing. I've read more than one story of a million dollar lottery winner that ended up losing old friends and running out of money not knowing how to manage it. Many sports, music and Hollywood stars with sudden fame and wealth find themselves in a state of confusion and turn to drugs or other ways of escape. The star that worked hard, endured some failures and took his or her time in their journey are the ones who coped better with success. Journeys bring obstacles and trials and we should expect them and be prepared for them. We are refined by them. God equipped the Israelites. "The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle." Exodus 13:18 They had Moses who led them and a God who blessed them beyond measure. They had many failures and lessons. The first generation was so defiant, they would not be alive by the end of the journey. Their descendants behind them would win this prize. Here is how God summed up Moses' journey in the desert: "The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything." Deuteronomy 2:7 We worship the same God as Moses. He will treat us the same way. If you are anxious in your journey, slow down. Look around. How are you being blessed? Perhaps your journey is in a slow spot. Is God showing you something? Are you listening and being obedient? Are you stuck in your past failures? Listen to Paul's advice, "...I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12b-14 Keep praying with expectant prayers in your journey and enjoy the trip along the way! God has amazing things to show you!