In the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, we read about the story of Moses and the Israelites. If you’re not familiar with Moses, Moses was the chosen and anointed leader who took the Israelites out of Egypt - out of slavery to take them into the promised land. God parted the seas for them, He provided for them; yet they were stuck in the desert for 40 years.
Numbers 11:5 says “We remember the fish we had in Egypt at no cost - also cucumbers, melons, onions, and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
How cool would it be to get fed by God supernaturally with these prices on groceries… inflation, is real!
The Bible says that there was manna coming down from heaven; yet, they were complaining about their current status and even comparing what their life was like before. Let me remind you, the life they came from was slavery! Wow, how ungrateful! They are getting fed by God supernaturally. Yet they can't help but complain and compare about what was then.
But I can’t say I don’t relate. I’ve been there before. Comparing my current season and thinking how that season seemed better than this one to the point that I have lost sight of the miracle of what God is doing here and now.
I would even say that's one of the reasons why they were stuck for 40 years! Their lack of gratefulness toward God was not allowing them to move to the next season, to the promises of God. Their ungratefulness kept them stuck in their complaints and struggles.
This brings so much fear of God to my heart… I had to stop and reconsider. Have I been grateful IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES?! As it says in Thessalonians- It’s easy to compare to what was or what could be… but when we begin to exercise that muscle of gratitude, gratitude flows out of our hearts in hard seasons.
I remember when we lost my father in law and my mother-in-law kept screaming “Gracias Señor por que tú eres bueno” (Thank you Lord because you are so good God!) Here’s what I learned - we understand the power of gratitude IN ALL circumstances when we have the revelation that all things work together for our good and God’s perfect will! There's no room for complaints when we trust God in the hard seasons. There's no room for comparison when we KNOW that we have a good God who loves us unconditionally.
Here’s something practical you can do - in your prayer time sit for a few minutes just to thank God for every single little miracle He has done over your life. Write or journal about the prayers He has answered and the miracles you see Him do every day in your life.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
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