Exodus 13:17
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
So when they left, they were ready to fight a war, but GOD KNEW that if they faced a war right as they were leaving, they would chicken out. That is awesome. God really does work with us in our weakness to help us along.
There are about 5 times that I know of that God worked events in perfect sync with my LACK of faith. Like I would have never quit my job at the bank if I knew my wife was pregnant with our first child, but the day before I started the new job I got after quitting the bank, we found out we were pregnant, and that was just about the best job I’ve ever had.
Another time I set out to buy a house, and figured out all the sacrifice I would have to make in order to buy it, then I started the process and the company I worked for gave us all TWO WEEKS NOTICE and we were all fired! I had already signed the contract so I couldn’t back out, but from the delay I found out about a grant program for first time homebuyers and got a grant for the full amount of the down payment plus $13.08 extra to go buy dinner after the home closing!
God is so merciful, in that even in His calling on our lives, He does not tempt us beyond what we can bear. I was thinking the other day, “What is the point of what I’m doing now? Am I wasting 2 years of my life and the life of my family? (a sum of 10 years wasted?) Is this just a wandering around time or a pruning time? Is it ok to feel so unfruitful right now?”
And then I ask the question, “Do I know without a doubt that I’m where I’m supposed to be and doing what I’m supposed to be doing?” (never mind whether I’m doing as good a job as I wish I was or if it is going the way I would like)
Yes.
Then I can keep on going. I feel A LOT like Benjamin Driscoll, the Johnny Appleseed guy in The Martian Chronicles, don’t look back and wait for rain.