“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
No windshield wiper or defroster could correct the decreased visibility in front of me.
It wasn’t raining or foggy outside, but the torrential pouring inside my car obstructed my view. “Overwhelmed” was too weak a word to describe my emotions and fears.
Two weeks had just passed after my 63-year-old brother, who was taking care of our 93-year-old dad, graduated from the ICU to a step-down unit.
My oldest brother took our dad in. It was now my responsibility to figure out what to do with our disabled brother. The rehab place asked me for discharge instructions. My husband and I were the only ones who could take him, but we work full time.
As I wiped off the tears, the road became more visible, but my mind’s eyes kept flashing the word, “Rejoice.” “Rejoice in the LORD always, I say it again, Rejoice!”
Simultaneous to this, questions barraging my brain vied for answers.
How do I rejoice when everything is falling apart? Where would my brother go after rehab? How could we take care of him? How do we keep up with the finances?
The many unknowns facing us could baffle anyone, but more so for someone like me who had been dealing with issues of anxiety since I was a child. These challenges could spiral me into a panic.
I have experienced God’s faithfulness throughout my life, but I desired the same things Moses wanted when he voiced his thoughts to the Lord in Exodus 33.
God appointed Moses to lead the Israelites on their journey into the land of milk and honey—a country and destiny of many unknowns. He requested the assurance that his faithful God who was with them in the wilderness would travel with them to the promised land. Because God had become angry with the Israelites for the idol they created and for being stiff-necked people, He was sending an angel instead. God’s chesed, the Hebrew word for steadfast love, kept God from showing His wrath. That’s why He was doing this.
But Moses longed for no less than God’s presence and His glory. He asked God not to send them if He would not go with them.
Our key verse tells us the Lord’s reply, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Moses needed to hear this.
As my husband and I anticipate taking care of my brother, we hold on to God’s perfect promise. His Presence is sufficient, that’s why I can rejoice.
My friends, we can walk through our unknowns with confidence because God promises to be with us. The road might seem dim, but when we walk in the light of His Presence, the darkness will not linger. Our good God knows and holds our future.