At church this morning, as I was listening to the sermon I had to smile because of how relevant it was to my life at this moment. Our church has started a series called “Transitions” and we are looking at the book of Exodus and the journey the Israelites take through the desert. Today’s reading was from Exodus 16: 1-18. The people of Israel were grumbling against the Lord for taking them out of Egypt. “The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’” Exodus 16:3
That phrase “If only” robs us of joy. Just yesterday I was talking to my boyfriend about comparing myself to other girls. Being a professional golfer, it’s easy for me to look at another professional who has had or is having more success and say, “Why is she successful, but I am not?” Every time I do that, some of my joy slips away from me, and that’s not what God wants. God wants me to look at myself through His eyes because the plans and successes and failures He has for me are not the same that He has for someone else. “If only” focuses on the things that did not happen and the things that aren’t going to happen because of what has already taken place.
God wants me to live a joyful life and He doesn’t want me to focus on the past or the “If onlys.” He wants all His children to live a life filled with joy; a life His only Son, Jesus, lived when he walked the earth. I don’t know where you’re at in your walk with God or what you needed to hear today, but I know I needed this message and I pray you heard what God wanted you to hear! :)
Xoxo, Jen
