When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. -Exodus 13:17-18
When I came upon those verses the other day, I had to smile.
Because so often, this is my experience with God.
I want the short cut.
I want the quickest route.
Yet God takes me on the long one. Through the wilderness.
And while I tap my foot and drum my fingers and wonder what in the world is taking so long, He knows what I can handle.
He’s leading me to the Red Sea.
He’s getting ready to reveal His glory.
Let’s Talk: Is something in your life taking longer than you’d like? Do these verses encourage you?
I love that passage! I’ve been reading about Joseph and how God was with him and made him prosper–and yet, Joseph was a slave and then a prisoner! It took a long, long time for Joseph to achieve his intended position in the world.
Honestly, I HATE waiting. Hate it. If there is any way I can get to the front of the line quicker (without hurting anyone!), I want it. But, that’s not always God’s plan, and I know it’s not always good for me.
Cheers to you on your wait, Katie!
I’m getting many new lessons in patience.
I love the word picture you paint here, Katie. I image the 3-D glory revealed as we turn the corner toward the Red Sea and finally understand as much as we can what God was up to all along. I’ve learned patience the hard way in the last couple of years. Stepped on toes where landmines blew up. I’ve learned to tread carefully and slowly, looking up at our Compass often. Sometimes I still want the quickest way. But then I miss the stroll with Him through the poppy fields.
How funny, I have to prepare a lesson on Moses for the teen girls this Sunday at AWANA!
It is hard to wait…but knowing that the journey will end with God revealing His glory is so worth it.
Reminds me of hiking down the Grand Canyon. It is a long walk, but when you get to the bottom and see those beautiful Havasupai Falls with their tourquoise waters? It is worth the wait.
Come quickly, Lord!
I love this! THIS is why I know better than to pray to learn to have patience..hee. Seriously, as a writer, with all those WAIT times, it’s enough to make you lose your mind, or at least your willpower to continue. Thankfully, God has ways of restoring your faith and pushing you forward, when you’re going the right direction. EVEN if you have to wait a while. (and usually, the BEST thing for you is right around the corner!)
God has surprised me time and time again with how He arranges things in my life much differently than the way I think they should be handled, LOL. Patience is soooo hard sometimes!
Hehe, yes, there are a couple things taking a bit too long. But time and time again, God proves to me that His timing just plain rocks. I just need to work on remembering that when I’m in a waiting season. 🙂
LOVE your book!!! Oh my goodness…I’m going to read it a second time to learn. 🙂 The first time was for pure enjoyment…and enjoy I did. 🙂
I’ve been writing for most of the past twenty years. And seeking publication for a good many of them. Enough said. Except that I wouldn’t have it any other way, for the things I’ve learned.
Yep, those words are encouraging. What’s taking longer than I want? Healing. Maybe I mean learning to accept that I will never be healed, and learning hat on those hard days I just need to keep going. 🙂 Quilted blessings.
Oh sure.;)
We are going to have one whopping party when His glory is revealed!
~ Wendy
Mmmm…It’s so encouraging to know he has a purpose. He has a reason for how’s he’s leading us. And if we’re patient, he just might give us a miracle. Amen to that!
Thanks for the reminder, Katie. The journey is also our preparation period:
You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3,4
Oh that’s EXACTLY what I was thinking, and I LOVE that verse from James! (Though I’m not very patient when I have to USE it!) 🙂
Love your post Katie!
How do I subscribe to comments on your blog? Is there a button I am missing?
Hey girl – I know you can subscribe to my blog using the RSS feed….I’m not sure how to subscribe to my comments! I’m going to email my amazing web guy, Jason Walker, and see if this is an option. I’ll let you know what I find out!
Hey girl –
So this is what I’ve got:
If she wants to subscribe to individual post feeds she would need to add /feed after whatever the post link is into her rss feed reader. So for example she could put in this link https://katieganshert.com/faith/the-long-route/feed/
and get the comment feed for your blog post “The Long Route”.
Sorry there’s not a button or something easier you could do Sherrinda!
Waiting is always hard, but life is full of waiting moments. In the car sitting at a light. In line at the grocery store. At home by the phone.
Sometimes the waiting is internal. We wait to hear God or to get the best story idea.
The older I get, and the more I wait, the easier it has become. (now watch me have to wait for something that turns me inside out!) I have to just go with the flow. Sure, I might do a little complaining along the way like the Israelites did…ugh, have you heard me whine about the construction workers in my home????…but really, whatever happens will happen in God’s time.
And His timing is always best. 🙂
This verse has always inspired me. God has our best interest at heart. He knows what will set us back, and sometimes that’s the shortest distance to where we need to be. I love the long route because it’s extra time I get to spend at His feet.
Yep, they do encourage me. And yep, some stuff seems to be taking forever. *sigh*
Waiting can be tough, but I often ending up learning a lot during waiting times. I like to think I’m getting better at dealing with them. I’m certainly getting plenty of practice. =)
I’ve wrestled with this question in the past … not wrestling with it now. I now there will come a time when I’ll be wondering “What’s taking so long?”
And I hope I remember that God’s leading me to the Red Sea!
Thanks for the encouragement, Katie.
Are you feeling better?