Devotions with Pastor Delinda Jeronimo

Looking Ahead and Looking Behind
 
Have you ever driven away from something and looked in the rear view mirror and saw what was behind while simultaneously seeing what was ahead,  knowing this was a pivotal moment in your life, after this nothing would be the same but assured God has used what was behind to prepare you for what’s next?

I’m reminded of that every time I think about the story of Moses and the Israelites. We think 2020 was bad… imagine looking in a rear view mirror and seeing Pharaoh and his army coming after you and looking before you at the sea, Moses getting ready to lift his rod, trusting that the Lord will get them to the other side safely.

“And Moses said to the people. ‘Do not be afraid.  Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.  For the Egyptians whom you see today you will see again no more forever.  The Lord will fight for you, and you will hold your peace.’  And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me?  Tell the children of Israel to go forward.  But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.  And the children of Israel will go on dry ground through the midst of the sea…” Exodus 14:13-16

I’m looking back on 2020 and looking forward to 2021 with the same feeling in my heart as I have when I read about Moses and the Israelites.   I hope 2020 has taught you something.  I hope looking ahead at the year to come you are looking forward to a fresh start, ways to be more intentional with your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and the lost.  I hope that you are looking forward and able to rest on the fact that God has prepared you for whatever is coming next.  I can’t tell you what 2021 will hold, just as Moses and the Israelites had no idea what was next…but I can assure you God is looking out for His people.  It may not be easy, and it may, who knows, but no matter what, He will be right there with us, always at the ready.

Pastor Delinda