Changed360

Seasons come and go. We witness seasons in nature and experience them in our lives. In nature seasons are described by their conditions much like how we describe seasons of our lives. This past week where I live we had a good snow, that was eagerly anticipated and welcomed with joy by most, myself included. I enjoyed the snow and excitement that came with it but after a few days I found myself thinking “I’m ready for green and spring”. This prompted me to think about how we so often miss the now looking for what is next or looking back to what was. Then I thought about the children of Israel. In Exodus (13:21-22) the Lord led the children of Israel out of Egypt by a pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night. In chapter 14 the Egyptians pursued them and they became afraid crying out to God. Then they said to Moses, why have you taken us to die out here in the wilderness? They thought it would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to go and die in the wilderness. Through this exodus they witness many miracles; the Red sea crossing (Exodus 14:21-22), Bitter water made sweet (Exodus 15:22-25), bread from heaven (Exodus 16), water from the rock (Exodus 17). The people were always complaining despite continuously witnessing God miraculously provide and make ways for them. It seems their trust wasn’t in God in the here and now. They were always looking back to what was or looking to what was next. God wanted them to trust him in the now. For example with the bread that the Lord provided they were given instruction to gather only what they needed for the day (Exodus 16:15-21) Those who gathered more had nothing left over and those who gathered little had no lack (Exodus 16:17-18)Their pondering on the past like when they thought it would be better to to be slaves in Egypt, or concern for tomorrow like when they hoarded bread, hindered their ability to experience God in the now. I can relate to their vision. I am guilty of looking everywhere but now. What do we miss when we aren’t present? What do we miss when we don’t trust God? Everything has its season and God is in control. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. We have been blessed with the ability to remember and to plan but don’t get so caught up in what was or what is next that you miss the now.