Have you ever experienced barriers on the path God has for you? Ever asked God why the barriers exist? I mean, if this is God’s will, why shouldn’t the path be open and clear and, dare I say, easy. Being blocked by barriers can lead to frustration, unless we learn to lean in to what God is doing in us, for the sake of what He wants to do through us.

I can easily recount pivotal times in my life where I knew God was calling me to something, and being meet with adversity. On a daily basis, I would pray and ask, what are you doing in all this, Lord? In the silence, what was required of me was to trust and to wait.

Hear this, sweet friend: sometimes, life gets harder before it gets better, but God’s plans are still in place and His promise remains.

Sometimes, life gets harder before it gets better, but God's plans are still in place and His promise remains. Click To Tweet

This is what happened to the Israelites when God sent Moses to free His people from Pharaoh. Moses shares God’s message with the people and they believe. But what happened next came as a shock to both the Israelites and Moses. After sharing God’s message to Pharaoh, instructing him to let God’s people go, Pharaoh strikes back with a vengeance. He not only keeps the Israelites as his slaves, he also makes their work harder.

 ⁷ “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. ⁸ But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.” Exodus 5:7-9

What in the world?! Why would God send Moses in confidence to free His people, and not have Pharaoh submit? Talk about a barrier. And even more, the people begin to doubt God’s promise and turn their frustration on Moses, who then turns to God in anguish.

²² Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? ²³ Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23

If you’ve heard this story before, then you know God does in fact rescue His people, just as He promised He would. An encouraging take away from this historical account: God does what He says He will do, but it will be in His timing, for His purpose–both being for our good and the good of others.

When Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites, there is no doubt in the people’s minds that it is by God’s doing alone. They had no part in it–God received all the glory and the people’s faith grew. Not only did the Israelites believe and see God’s mighty hand, the Egyptians did as well.

⁵ And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.” Exodus 7:5

If God fulfilled His promises on our timeline, I truly believe we would receive a fraction of the blessing. God has something more in store. Don’t allow the barriers to break you or your confidence in Him. He is working in the wait, behind the scenes where we can’t see. Be patient, be in prayer, and be preparing.

Let's Pray: 
Father, Your word is active and alive and filled with promises to encourage our hearts in every season of life. May we have a desire to read, learn, and meditate over Your truth. Help us to not become discouraged by any barrier, but rather to lean in, believing You are still at work and that there is more up ahead. Help us trust in the trials, and may our faith grow all the more. Amen. 

With lots of love,