Stand Firm or Move Ahead?

There are times when faced with a huge decision or a difficult speed bump on life's road I tend to "freeze." I just stand there as if I am waiting for a Divine sign or message. In scripture the disciples said, "Lord show us a sign." His rebuke of them was swift and sharp. Faith that requires sight is really not faith at all. "Faith is believing in that which cannot be seen." Yet, firm I stand......motionless......frozen in time......paralyzed by fear or indecision. One of my favorite stories takes place in the great Exodus where God chose a known felon, a murderer, to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. God was delivering them from slavery. In this case it was slavery by the Egyptians. Slavery is seldom a good thing. We know that from our own American story. But slavery can sometimes seem safe. It is predictable, it is something known and so people choose to remain in bondage. I have seem women remain slaves to the abuse handed them by a spouse or significant other. I always encourage them to leave the abuse and beatings, but more than half the time they don't. Why? Because it is familiar. It is predictable and leaving means moving into the unknown. How will I pay the bills? Where will I live? What if I can't make it? So they stand firm.....trapped between "heaven and hell" if you will. The same is true with an addition. For many years I drank and smoked. I knew I should quit, but I didn't want to. I would have to find new friends, when, in fact, the booze and smokes were my friends. They were there when I wanted them. They never criticized me. They comforted me. And thus, for years I stood firm while I nearly destroyed that which was most important......my family and my own life. I got rid of the old friend "Chevaz Regal" and good ole' "Bud" about 35 years ago. I don't know what happend to them, but I know what happened to me. I moved on and found new friends.....my wife, my kids and lots of people I never had time for before. But you see the old friends, the bottle, the smokes (which by the way I kicked out of the house also) are so comfortable so we stand firm.
In that Exodus story the people of Israel were trudging along in the sand not knowing all the obstacles that would disrupt their lives.....all those things that would make them want to turn back. In fact, God knew so He confused their journey and made them wander around in circles for 40 years. God knew they would turn around if He didn't do that. They would go back into slavery. Why? Because it was comfortable.....it was predictable and known. So when they came to the Red Sea and looked on the ridge behind them as saw the army of Egypt about ready to destroy them they were paralyzed. They asked Moses what to do and Moses said, "Stand firm. Today you will see the Lord fighting for you." Now it is a fact that God fights for us every day and every second of every day. But when Moses went over to speak with God, the Lord said, "Tell the people to move forward." Moses said, "Don't you see the water? They'll drown." (Italics mine). What God was in effect saying is you need to trust and get your feet wet. Guess what? When they stuck a toe in the water, the sea was parted and they walked across of dry land. But when the Egyptian army gave chase, God closed the sea and destroyed the enemy.
As I said, I often tend to stand firm and say, "God you do this." But God says, "Oh you of little faith. Get your feet wet and I'll take care of the water."
What about you? Are you standing firm today, paralyzed by fear, hatred, resentment, an addiction, a broken relationship, a dark secret (which God knows by the way), of some other Red Sea? If you stand firm I'll tell you what happens. I remember basic training in the service of Uncle Sam's army. I saw young men (no women at that time) stand at attention too long with their knees locked. They fell over because the blood circulation was cut off. Standing still is not a positive experience most of the time. When I would do a wedding service, I always told the wedding party to flex their knees every few minutes so they wouldn't faint. I am telling you the same thing. Don't pass out from fear, suffering, doubt, lack of money, a bad relationship, or whatever you may be facing. Move forward and watch God part the waters. Now, the Israelites also faced other minor inconveniences such as deadly snakes, a lack of water, etc. Life's journey is not a "cake walk." Life is tough sometimes. It's the Forrest Gump "box of chocolates," where you never know what your are going to get. But please remember this. The Israelites got through the wilderness and so will you if you allow the God of creation to lead you. I got through my addictions and so will you. At the recent summer olympics I saw a young gymnast fall from the uneven bars. She had two choices......1) walk away in shame or 2) get back on the bars and finish the routine. Thankfully, she chose the later. She didn't receive a medal but she was a winner because she refused to stand firm. She moved forward and in God's eyes she was a winner and so are you.
Scripture say, "I know the plans I have for you," 'says the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for evil. Plans to give you a future and a hope." God has good things planned for you. The going will not be easy.....it seldom is, but God wants to do something awesome in your life. Don't prevent him by standing firm or by going back into slavery. Go ahead....put your toe in the water and see what great things God will do.
God bless you now and always.