How Long

February 7, 2011

Picture this, it’s August and we’re in the mountains of Wyoming. It’s snowing sideways, the temperature is rapidly dropping, and our feet feeling numb. There are 3-4 inch puddles of water on the trail and we’re about six miles deep into the back country on our way over the Alaskan barrier in the Grand Tetons. How much farther to our destination?

Is it too far?  Is it too late to turn back now?

Rather than suffer through this brutal storm we decided to turn back. We began to run downhill on the trail until we were suddenly stopped in our tracks in a very narrow ravine with several Moose standing on the trail with no way around them. Deciding not to risk a potential confrontation we hid behind a rock, waiting and shivering.  But they were not leaving and it was getting dark fast!

We had to do something so we turned around to trudge back uphill. It was very cold and our feet were numb from our water soaked boots. We’re getting concerned. Our hands were too cold to get our maps out to see how much father it was to this cave we knew about. After each bend in the trail we keep asking ourselves, “Are we there yet?”

We’ve all asked that same question a time or two. How long do I have to go through this? How long must I endure this ache in my heart?

Today, millions of unemployed are asking, “How many resumes do I need to send out?”, often hearing “you’re overqualified” or “we’re moving in another direction.”

“How long will my finances be like this? How long will I have to suffer like this?” How long – how long?”

After wandering in the desert for two years the Israelites were asking, “How long will we be stuck in this place?” They had become resentful, manna riots had broken out and Moses their leader was becoming discouraged. Moses, fed up with their behavior as well as his responsibility as their leader, told God, “If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin." Num.11:15

Moses was not where he wanted to be or where he thought he would be at this point in his life.

Perhaps this sounds too familiar, too close to home? But God was well aware of this. He instructed Moses to delegate some of his burden of responsibility to seventy elders of Israel.

In other words God knew what Moses was dealing with and He provided! If you’re out of work, some times God provides by being more diligent, by taking more control, by scaling back on things that used to be normal that are now out of the question. God does provide.

Although we were nearly half frozen, God did provide a cave for my friend and I high up there in the Tetons along with several other backpackers as well. We found shelter from the storm with others. Interesting night to say the least. But you know what? God will provide for you too, it just might not be the way you anticipate.

Maybe your waiting has been too long in that time of ‘in between’ and you’re feeling completely undone and don’t know where to start?

Throw out the life preserver now! Cry out to God using the Psalms.

Connect with a Psalm that you can relate to and perhaps re-write it in your own words. There is nothing you can’t tell God. As in the psalms, be honest and pour your heart out to HIM.  Stay tuned…