Have you ever had to cross a RED SEA in your life? If you
have and your experience was anything like mine you may have felt some of the
following symptoms: the sweats, nausea, fear, anxiousness, need I go on… I crossed My Red Sea about three years ago
when a job opportunity presented itself to me without me looking for it. Uncharted territory and out of our comfort
zone is a place that we are often hesitant to run to, or at least I was that
way.
Let’s take a look back in time for a moment. Exodus 14: 15,16 NIV
15 Then the Lord
said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out
your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go
through the sea on dry ground.
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that
night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into
dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through
the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
My heart
truly pounds when I close my eyes and think about Moses, the Egyptians were
closing in on them closer and closer second by second. I can’t imagine looking
back to a group of already complaining people and with the Red Sea standing
behind me and an army closing in to capture us. Talk about the sweats I think I
would have had to find the nearest prota potty. But isn’t God’s choice of words
interesting, paraphrased “Quit praying
and get a move on.” and I can
imagine myself saying uh ok God but do you see this great big Red Sea in front
of me? Sometimes in our lives just like Moses, God requires moving faith. All
He instructed Moses to do was raise his staff and He would take care of the
rest. How simple God makes it for us sometimes as easy as raising a stick in
the air. God loves opportunities like this, opportunities to show us that He
can use the smallest of things, like a staff or stick, to show us how GREAT and
FAITHFUL HE is. Just do it already, raise the staff. So Moses did and an
amazing thing happened, the waters parted and the ground was dry. I love that
part, He thinks of everything, parting the waters and drying up the ground. I
can’t imagine the jaw dropping look on the face of Moses and the Israelites but
let’s pause a moment. If you were standing there looking at this great divided
sea and a dry path to walk on would you just shout and run for it or would you
have to look in amazement for a while. I m sorry to say I’d be standing there
with a gaping mouth.
So the
first test of faith was holding up the staff the second was actually crossing
it. Let’s park here for a moment and be honest with each other. How many of you
would be like me and hold you hand over your forehead to gaze upon this amazement
and ponder with a pounding heart hmmm I don’t see anything holding up the water
on each side what if we get half way through and it decides to collapse and
destroys us. What if, what if, what if? Do you ever see a great opening and
miss the chance to walk on dry ground and cross over to a new opportunity that
He has for you? Well standing with my toes at the edge of the sea is where I
found myself a little over 3 years ago.
I had a good job with a great boss who allowed for flexibility when
needed. It’s not often that you have a great supervisor who is understanding
and supportive. And although, I loved my job, financially it just wasn’t taking
care of my family’s needs. Of course, I had consulted God about all of this and
was just looking with anticipation when on my way to work one morning on of my
boys became sick. I new that it was a long shot to get him on such short notice
as a new patient but I called anyway and wouldn’t you know they said be here by
10. I called my boss and explained and while almost half way to work (which was
an hour each way) I turned my car around and headed back home. I called my
husband and these were my exact words, “I am giving up on looking for a new job
what more could I ask for I have such an understanding supervisor, we’ll make
it I am just gonna stay where I am.” I some how think it was that very moment
when I gave up that God moved in. That’s exactly what He does He waits till we
expire so He can show us His amazing glory.
I
arrived at the doctors office and as I sat there waiting with my son, a long
time friend of my husband walked in, (which we hand not seen in 20 years) and
we began to talk and catch up we exchanged phone numbers so that he and my
husband could reconnect. Then a week
later he calls and asks me if I would be interested in a pharmaceutical
job. “Well, uh yeah,” I said, “ but I
have no experience,” and he said.
“ I
already explained that to this manager. He asked me to email him my resume,” so
I did. A few weeks later I begin this long and I mean long and exhausting
interview process. It was by far the most difficult and interview process that
I have been through. This went on for at least 2 months maybe longer and as
time drew near I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes and actually
glad I didn’t. Every step that I took closer to getting this job DOUBT
appeared. “You don’t know anything about pharmacokinetics, biology, anatomy
heck you cant even pronounce the biological name of these drugs that you will
be talking about” it whispered. Doubt, if watered will quickly grow and
eventually down your faith. I kept asking God, as things progressed, Is is this
from You?” He loves moving us out of our comfort zone into an area where we
lack confidence and knowledge so that we may depend on Him and He may then grow
our faith. (This is never a pleasant process.)
One
Sunday morning in Sunday school I found this in my lesson book and my heart
pounded when I read it and still does when I read it today. “Coincidences”
are carefully ordered by the hand of God. All point toward God’s final, forceful
answer to the prayers of HIS people.” I tore this out of my Sunday school
book and have kept it close at hand. Sometimes when we doubt He is always
gracious to provide us with a little assurance along the way.
So, I got the phone call and I was offered the job. Once
again doubt began to rain on me but this time the sunshine dried it up and
encouraged me. As I stood in my driveway talking to Heather and expressing my
doubt and fear about moving forward to something I knew nothing about, she said
these words to me. “I bet Moses felt the same way before the crossed the Red
Sea.” A smile spread across my face and courage filled my heart and yep you
guessed it I accepted the job. Here is what I later found out that I was up
against 15 other candidates with each of them having 9 plus years experience
and the hiring manager said this. “Everytime there was a hiccup everything
always fell in your favor.” So I just had to “Move on already” and with every
step doubt faded until it disappeared.
God has used this job to provide and meet the needs of my family and has
given me the opportunity to be a LIGHT for HIM, to pray for so many and to
encourage those who are down hearted and sometimes just simply give someone a
smile.
I don’t know where you are standing today, maybe your are
gazing out at the parted waters of your Red Sea, and what can I tell you. Just
Go Already. Let Him amaze you.
1 comment:
great red sea experience....your poppy!!!!!!!!!wow!!!!!!
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