“Facing Tough Times” – “Exodus 14:3-4 – 8-20-23
Posted on Facebook – May 26, 2023
Good afternoon to all, I have a God story; it starts with a book, sitting on the table. Its been there a long time and i thought i’d get around to reading it sooner or later. One day last week, I walked by the table and decided maybe I’d read that book and see what it was about. It’s called The Red Sea Rules, by Robert J. Morgan. So, I began to read. It’s about how God can help us and what we can learn from the hard things that happen. Here is why this book is a God story. This past Saturday, my husband, Lee had an ATV accident. God watched over him and its not as bad as it could have been but its pretty bad. There are things I must do, nursing for instance, that I’m not really good at. But this book reminded me and helped me to look to God for help, wisdom, strength, patience, etc in this situation. Thank you, Lord. And I wanted to share this book with others of you who are in or might be dealing with some hard things in the future.
Blessings to all of you. Sonya Engbretson
Exodus 14:3-4
New International Version
3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. Red Sea Rules #2
Red Sea Rules
Red Sea Rule #1 Realize that God means for you to be where you are.,
Red Sea Rule #2 Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.,
Red Sea Rule #3 Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.,
Red Sea Rule #4 Pray!,
Red Sea Rule #5 Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.,
Red Sea Rule #6 When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.,
Red Sea Rule #7 Envision God’s enveloping presence.,
Red Sea Rule #8 Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.,
Red Sea Rule #9 View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.,
Red Sea Rule #10 Don’t forget to praise Him.,
1. Red Seas comes in all shapes and sizes. What’s the Red Sea you’re focusing on for this journey?
2. Why is life so hard? Why do problems persist? Why do we encounter these Red Seas?
3. Be honest—how have you been initially reacting to your own Red Sea experience, whatever it is?
Sometimes we can’t find the answers to our dilemmas because we’re asking the wrong questions. Our natural instinct is to ask:
“How did I get into this mess, and how can I get out?”
“How quickly can I solve this problem?”
“Why did this have to happen to me?”
These are natural questions, but they may be the wrong ones to ask. There is a better approach, one that results in an entirely new way of looking at difficulties, that puts our problems into a different context and creates a new paradigm for dealing with tough situations.
The next time you’re overwhelmed, instead of asking, “How can I get out of this mess?” try asking, “How can God be glorified in this situation?” One’s perspective is entirely changed by the spiritual realities behind that approach. It’s like switching on floodlights in a dark stadium.
Taken from Red Sea Rules