What are you faced with

What are you faced with?
I believe that people are really feeling the pinch during these trying economic times. Add that to this a time of the year where we are asked to be the most generous and you can see why a person would become reclusive, reserved and reticent. The million dollar question (no pun intended) is not are you faced with difficulties, but how will you respond to them.

The children of Israel were faced with similar trials, they had recently been released from Egypt and were in route to meet with a person simply known as "I am that I am" and He directed them to encamp at the Red Sea. Pharaoh deciding that this freedom was more than the Egyptian economy could bare and began to tail, track and trail his former possession until he could overtake them and return them to bondage. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them— the Egyptians! Coming at them! They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.’ ” (Exodus 14:10-12 The Message Bible) The scriptures states that the people began to complain and murmur and confront Moses about how he had brought them out to this place to die and to add insult to injury that they would not even receive a decent burial. They were faced with drowning on one side and bondage or death on the other. Which way should they face? Which way will you face?

I believe that God allows difficulties to pursue us and overtake us so that we are required to make a decision, to make a choice. Now let me be clear, the reason they found themselves at this place was because the Lord led them there. And if God leads us to a place; God desires to be glorified from that place. When faced with the decision to trust or not trust, to be faithful or faithless, to believe or not to believe the choice must be clear, succinct and unwavering. We must be willing to proclaim I will trust you Lord, I will have faith in you Lord, I will believe you Lord no matter the circumstance or situation.

Although you may not be literally stuck between Pharaoh and the Sea we all at times find ourselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place. During those times of difficult decisions, life changing decisions that we face, we must turn towards His Face and believe that if He brought me to it He will bring me through it, just like He did the children of Israel.