History with God

I want you to write down three things you were struggling with last year, during this exact time.

Write down the struggles, the sadness, the heartache, or the joys, the praises, and blessings.

Last year during this time, I was leaving for college *correction* I was a mess. (A MESSSS)

• I was doubting every decision I made. I felt like God was nowhere in the new chapter of college.

• My mom and I were completely off, She had always been my best friend and the thought of college was pushing us apart.

• I cried about leaving my family almost everyday before moving into college.

• I felt as if the church I grew up in was falling apart and I was leaving not knowing if we would ever find a new pastor.

• Once arriving on my college campus, I didn’t meet my future bridesmaids week one, so there I was friendless. I felt like everyone had already made their girl group and of course they were all pretty and had amazing style.

• I was in women’s ministry classes where every single girl loved Jesus, had been on 5 mission trips, wanted to marry a pastor, and again all super pretty. I had never struggled with comparison this bad before.

• I wasn’t sure what God was calling me to do, so I hopelessly assumed He was done with me.

Where was the joy in graduating high school and moving on? Why would God lead me to this point just to stop? These were the questions that filled my head. Looking back, this sounds so dramatic, so yes you can laugh. But at the time, those emotions and feelings felt so real. I can now thank God for giving me a new perspective, eyes to see how through those emotions, He was at work! I leave for college tomorrow and this time around, things look much different than last year.

Back to your list of things you wrote down- why did those things have your attention? Why do you think it is important to examine each season of our lives?

I love looking back at every different season of my life. In fact, I seem to get very sentimental and emotional during times of transition. So looking back brings me joy and hope in what God has done.

It can lead me into a time of thanksgiving and rejoicing that God has a plan for my life, and each and every person!

Orrr it can lead me to believe lies from the Devil- making me feel anxious, fearful, hopeless, and worrisome. I can start to worry about what is it come, how it will work out, how I will mess up. Every little detail of the future, that should excited me, starts to weigh heavy on my heart causing me to doubt God.

I know I at times, feel like I can become similar to the Israelites during times of transition. I know I am not alone in this, we all forget God’s faithfulness at times, and lose sight of His provision.

However, we are not the first people to struggle with this, let's look at some examples that go all the way back to the Old Testament.

The Israelites were in bondage to Pharaoh, who ruthlessly oppressed them.

• (Exodus 2:24-25): The LORD heard and answered to their cry their cry

• He provided the people with Moses, leading him to speak and judge the nation of Egypt. Exodus 4:4-5 Exodus 7:5

(Exodus 7): The Lord sent 10 plagues onto Egypt, all displaying the authority and power of our God. He triumphed over the Egyptian Gods and the strict rule of Pharaoh.

• This once again proved the Mighty Hand of God in showing the Isrealites only God could have done this.

(Genesis 15:5-6): The Lord promised Abraham that all this would happen. When God made His covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, He explained that his descendants would be enslaved and oppressed for 400 hundred years. But God would rescue them and bring them into the land He promised them.

(Exodus 14:13): They crossed the Red Sea on DRY GROUND!

• Exodus 14:31 - The people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

• Exodus 16:2 - In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!

When they thirst, He provides water for them (Ex 15:23-25, 17:1-6, Num 20:2-11), even by bringing water out of a rock in the dessert (twice!); when they hunger, He rains down Manna and Quail from Heaven (Ex 16);

Despite the power of God displayed, The Israelites remain a nation that time and time again, accuses God of bringing them into the wilderness with the intentions of letting them die (Ex 16:3, 17:3, Num 11:1, Num 14:2-3, Num 20:2-5);

When reading the scriptures, it is easy to see God’s faithfulness to the Israelites. It is almost easy to get annoyed with them, like how did they keep forgetting God was in control and had a plan? Why did they keep failing to trust Him?

However we fail to see it in our own lives, too. These scriptures were not included in the Bible to just show the history of God redeeming the Israelites, but to demonstrate how God is redeeming us, too.

The Old Testament displays everything that the Lord did in order to make way for the coming Savior. Freeing us from our sins so that we have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. Through the person and work of Christ, our greatest need is met, and we are given hope which allows us to look forward to the new creation (Rev 21-22) - a land that surpasses the Promised Land as its ultimate fulfillment.

Let us remember the LORD we serve, who has acted on our behalf for all of history; who has not changed since the Exodus of the Israelites; and who has authority over all of creation. History with God. We all have a history with God. Write it down and memorize it so you can prevent falling into the lies of the Israelites. Always remember what God has done for you in the past. Deuteronomy 6:6-10 displays this!!

Deuteronomy 6: 6-10

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Your life is the proof of His faithfulness!! Go back to the list of things you wrote down at the beginning of this. Has it changed or improved? Has God answered these prayers? If not, has He ever left you alone to go through the struggle by yourself? Maybe you just got saved recently, and are questioning your history with God- let me encourage you to read the Bible *GODS LOVE LETTER TO YOU!!* Your history starts in the book of Genesis! He was working in Genesis with you in mind! Rely on His faithfulness!!

If it is hard to see right now, let me remind you there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Last year...

• I was doubting every decision I made. I felt like God was nowhere in the new chapter of college. I wasn’t sure what God was calling me to do, so I hopelessly assumed He was done with me.

I know and am confident that my purpose is to share the Gospel and make God known. How He will use that in my occupation is still in the works, however, I am confident He has much greater plans than I can ever imagine.

• I felt as if the church I grew up in was falling apart and I was leaving not knowing if we would ever find a new pastor.

Our church was blessed with a God fearing Pastor with the sweetest family. There is an evident sweet spirit of a church family that is excited about what the Lord is doing here at Antioch!

• Once arriving on my college campus, I didn’t meet my future bridesmaids week one, so there I was friendless. I felt like everyone had already made their girl group and of course they were all pretty and had amazing style.

I have found several bridesmaids and cannot wait to hug them the second I get back to campus. Wait on the Lord to give you friendships rooted in Him. Where you can pray over one another, praise Him in the struggle, and strive to look more like Jesus together!

• I was in women’s ministry classes where every single girl loved Jesus, had been on 5 mission trips, wanted to marry a pastor, and again all super pretty. I had never struggled with comparison this bad before.

I leave for college tomorrow and will graduate in the Spring with my undergrad in Women’s Ministry, Global Studies, and Business. I will serve on a leadership team this school year helping disciple a group of girls on my hall. The Lord has blessed me to be able to walk alongside so many women who love the Lord and seek to do work for His Kingdom!!

I say all of this because I have nothing to boast about but what was done on the cross and the faithfulness of a God who is rich in mercy and love. I can do nothing more but to encourage you to remember His Faithfulness in your life!