Most of life's path is often full of struggles and difficulties as such its much rare finding an easy means to your goal. When our experience is made much of struggles and we expect God to make things easy soonest and its not forthcoming, we gradually get so weary to the extent of giving up even on several issues of life.
Today, in fact technology is making things much more easier and faster than it were before. This technological changes has left so many with a preconception that things should and will always be easy, fast and smart as the speed of light.
Some will rather prefer no other means except the shortest that leads to their 'destination'.
Of course the desire to seek short means is humane and has existed from the inception of creation but tends to be quite much today.
We always anticipate an easy path when God sends us on errand, an easy means to His purpose for us, shortcuts to our dreams and destiny etc.
So many often don't bother to take a thoughtful consideration.
What could the path look like?
What will the end be??
Is it likely to yield the desired outcome???
Even when they understand fully that the endpoint of the short means is disastrous, they still endanger themselves to be prey of such route simply cos their mind is so conditioned and preoccupied by short means- fastest route.
Little or nobody consider it sane anymore to tarry along a long path.
In fact, when you think of the long route, you're considered a big fool, you're described with a common term ju man- novice, immature etc not just by anybody but acquaintance per say.
Well, their opinions really may not count all the time cos you're the very person to wear the boot.
In other to make the right choice, we must put to remembrance our related experiences or that of others, consider the likely effect or consequence that may result and seek God's guidance.
The question then is, how often do we try to fathom the end of the route when we're in a hurry to commence our journey??
Even with our veiled imagination, we may still not be able to comprehend vividly the outcome at the end.
If such were possible, perhaps, we will be better guided on which route is best. Thus, it is not only important to conceptualize the path but also seeking God's guidance.
When the Israelites has wailed over their humiliation in Egypt for several years, at God's command Pharaoh gave up in holding back to them.
With their anticipation for The Promised Land- Covenant Land: a land flowing with milk and honey, ofcourse they would hope to get there within seconds if possible to enjoy the good of that land.
Unfortunately God knowing their heart decided to lead them along the wilderness.
When you carefully consider the scripture about their Exodus from Egypt, the experience was more of a detour when there exist a shortest distance between Egypt and Canaan. God rather led them through the wilderness. Exo 13:17ff.
Let's look at that action humanly now. Does it look sane leading the ones you love along a 'stressful/uneasy' path?
Of course not, so long as we do not see in the light of God.
" Who has known the mind of the Lord, who can tell what He is thinking? Who has ever given Him counsel? 1Corinth 2:16, Isa 40:13.
For no eyes has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him- Isa 64:4"
God specifically told Moses, follow the path of the wilderness leading through the Red Sea to Canaan stating His reasons: " Perhaps if the people are faced with a battle along the path running to the Philistine's land, they might change their minds and return to Egypt".
Does that prevent them from obstacles, pains and struggles along the wilderness?? No.
In fact, it seem that they met more along that path which extended each day's journey lasting for a year. Gesssssssss! That's incredible & unbelievable.
A forty days journey took forty years. If they were to overcome 40 challenges through their journey, that will imply 14,600 number of pains, tears, bitterness, hunger, bereavement etc.
Had they not gotten to Canaan even in less that forty days if they had followed the land of the Philistine? Yes of course, though to our imagination still.
God's decision and time are always the best for us at any moment. Our major challenge remains impatience.
The fact is, every of our life's path is made of certain degrees of obstacles and challenges. And God knowing His beloved(you) full well, wouldn't subject them to such without reasons. He didn't just sent them along that path without guide but through the day and night, the pillar of cloud and fire respectively were their compass.
God leads us along the path with opportunities to learn, and gain prerequisite knowledge to our destination. Each obstacle we successfully overcome becomes a stepping stone to another.
Every step is guided and each experience is worth it and these experiences cumulatively create/turning a baby into a full grown, matured and strong adult in every sense. James1:2-4, 1Pet 1:7.
This mean there are experiences God expects us to learn whenever we're faced with challenges, whenever our request isn't granted, whenever we lose something/someone we cherish so much - God's delay are not His denials. Even in His denial of our particular need, there's a lesson He's placed before us.
And then I ask myself a simple question each time I'm faced with a challenge. How much of the experience for this path I'm I learning/have I learnt??
What in particular does God want me/you to learn in our challenging times?
P.S: In case you wonder why this pieces ended with a question, its simply because I don't even have your satisfactory answer to that question neither do I have that of mine but going to God in prayers is the means to that.
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God bless you.
Shalom!