Word Count: 702

Contact Angel Jr. Ancheta

Manna in the Desert

by Angel Jr. Ancheta  
8/09/2010 / Christian Living

The Lord said to Moses, "Now I am going to cause food to rain down from the sky for all of you..." Exodus 16:4
"This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt. In the morning you will see the dazzling light of the Lord's presence..." Exodus 16:7

Complaints. Grumbling. Dissatisfaction. Whether we would like to admit it or not, the Christian life is full of it, especially in the early days, just after we have declared our belief in the saving power of God.
When I came to believe in Christ, I was going through one of the toughest times in my life. I had been getting very few clients and almost zero income, which forced me to sometimes skip lunch for lack of funds. On top of that, I was frequently arguing with my wife, was almost forced to leave my house, and I had just failed a major exam in my career. It was quite a chain of depressing events, for me at least.
Naturally, after I believed, I was very expectant. I expected the Lord's power to come through for me in a big way. I prayed almost every day, ever hopeful, and yet every night as the day ended, I often end up very frustrated at the seeming "punishment" that I was receiving from God.
A month passed, and then two, with seemingly no changes in my situation. I read some Christian books but it wasn't nearly enough. That was the lowest point. I was still financially "challenged", tired, hungry, and sunk in the pit of depression. I felt like a rat waiting to die in a cage.
I was thinking, "Why is it taking so long?" and "Was there something I forgot to do?" And then I thought "What the heck was the difference from my former way of thinking, then?" For what seemed like a long time, I complained.
But then, from somewhere inside me, "something" prompted me to read about the story of the Exodus. A story about people who suffered from oppression for a long time. I related at once with them, for I felt like the Israelites, as God let them suffer in the desert before leading them to the promised land. I felt as confused as they were, and sometimes felt as if my former way of life was an equivalent choice instead of hoping and getting disappointed like this.
But then I also read about God, how He gave them food to eat and water to drink. It wasn't exactly the tasty food that they wanted, and not in endless quantities as they wanted, but it sustained them in their journey, day by day. And eventually of course, they reached the promised land, but only after suffering through heat, exhaustion, near hunger, and wars.

Friend, I believe the power of God is more than enough to do the impossible, even with our ordinary lives. But we should not always expect a comfortable journey. As we will read in His Word, He allows many of his servants to suffer for a long time, sometimes without an obvious reason like what happened to Job. And sometimes this trial from God lasts for years. This tells us that the hard journey is as much a part of His plan for us as the destination is. In many books of the Bible we see that God wants to develop our faith and character through trials. And He wants us as Christians to be survivors and finishers in His power, by depending on Him.
I am still in the desert as much as some believers may also be. But I am now more aware of His purpose, and already I can see some hope, the "skyline" of his destination for me. I am becoming more content with the daily manna that he provides.
How about your own journey? Do you feel that you were just called out from one suffering to another? Are you at the point where you don't really feel God's providence anymore? Maybe it's just a matter of not seeing God's plan. If so, are you willing to still trust him with your suffering?

Angel Ancheta Jr.
34 year old male, married, no children
Lives in the Philippines

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Angel Jr. Ancheta

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer