When you're stuck…

Last Sunday, the kids and I piled into the car for the short drive home from church. I had been away all weekend speaking at a retreat, and was so excited to get home. It was dark, pouring down rain, and the massive church Traeger was strapped to the back carrier. As we pulled out of the parking lot, I noticed the gas tank was low, but it was only a short drive home so figured we’d be fine.

I figured wrong.

Halfway home, on a steep, steep hill, we ran out of gas. Perched on this hill, the Traeger teetering precariously on the back, Heidi started crying, “What’s happening?!!” I searched for my cell to call Jeff only to remember it was still in my jacket pocket — in Jeff’s car. Rolling backwards over to the curb, we set the brake, flashed the hazards, and waited. And waited and waited. The kids cried. “Why isn’t he coming??” Eventually I announced we should just walk home, only to remember that Dutch had taken off his shoes to play at church and put them in his backpack … in Jeff’s car. I had said he could just be barefoot since it was such a short drive home.

Whoops. 

No cell. No shoes.

“Well, kids, this is where we learn to wait and trust God!” The dark and rain and stranded-feeling felt scary to the kids, so they crawled up front and huddled on my lap. And so we sat … stuck.

A common theme throughout our faith-journey has been that God really likes letting us get stuck.  Check out this interesting way that God led His people in Scripture:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea” (Ex.14:1-2).

So they turn back and God tells them exactly where to camp. Not just a general area, they are to camp right by the sea. And not just by the sea, but in a spot that corners them by the sea.  They are to face the sea. To look straight into an impasse. Then what happens?

God brings Pharaoh.  And six-hundred of his chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.  They all came out.

So, because of carefully listening to the voice of the LORD, the children of Israel are stuck.  Cornered.  Up against the sea with thousands of Pharaoh’s guys coming after them. And the result?

“They feared greatly.” (v.10)

No kidding!  They were scared out of their wits!  This isn’t just running out of gas in the dark! They instantly cry out to God and lament, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us out to die in the wilderness?”  No more are they thankful for the miraculous deliverance in the Passover. And understandably. They have been led into a corner and are facing certain death.

But of course we all know what happens. God parts the Red Sea, all the nation of Israel is saved, and all of Pharaoh’s army and chariots are swallowed up in the sea and lost.  In one fell swoop God fights the entire battle for them.

And all they had to do was walk.

Because the real battle had already been won. The battle of trusting God.

God leads us into circumstances where the only way out is God. There is nowhere to run, hide, fight.  We’re stuck in a corner against the Red Sea. And that is where He loves to flex His muscles, doing what only the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords can do.

Since He created that sea by a simple word, He is able to part it rather effortlessly.

What corner are you facing today?  Where are you stuck? Is there a circumstance that seems hopeless? A situation where you have no options?  Where you throw your hands in the air and say, “I give up!”

That’s great.

Obey His voice and stay right there in that stuck spot.

Then look up.

Chances are the waters are just about to part.

~

{And of course, Jeff came and saved us when we were stranded. Later, as I tucked the kids in bed, I asked Dutch what his favorite part of the day was. His response: “When we ran out of gas!” Faith really is a fun adventure. Thanks for reading.}