Waiting on the Lord in times of despair

Waiting on the Lord in times of despair
S- exodus 6
6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”
9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

O - Often times our response to God's promises in our lives, is to look away from them when circumstances around us seem to indicate God's promises are far away or seem like they will never come.   In this case the Israelites who have been enslaved for several hundred years, had forgotten God's promise to their forefathers,  Abraham and Issaac.  They had forgotten how God changed circumstances for Joseph so that he might save His people from the great famine. And here presently he has sent Moses to set His people free and they just can't believe it.   Being people of God means we know Him, and we know He has never forsaken His promise to us.  He desires for a future where His people are free to be in communion with Him as it was in the beginning.   He has taken the biggest step already to send His son to die for our sins and therefore close the gap between God and man that sin had created.   We are to recognize this in all circumstances, despite our feelings of our current troubles, that God is with us and for us.

A -  The application for me is to restore my faith to the core values Jesus has taught me, that He loves me,  and has plans for me.  I faced a time of emotional separation and trial that had caused me to question my faith.  My feelings of closeness with God had faded, my sense of His presence had faded, and the troubles of this world seemed to surround me.   During this period of emotional separation God continued to provide for me, continued to have a plan for me, and always was there despite my feelings.  I must remember this even as I come out of this season, that God is with me, even when I feel separated, and that my circumstances are neither evidence that He has left, or somehow I have separated myself,  for nothing can separate me from the Love of God.

P - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for continuing to work on me and my faith.   I want so desperately for this season to be over, and continue to pray for victory over depression and restoration of the spark I once had.   I do recognize though your ways are better than my ways, and trust you have my best interest as well as the best interest of my family in mind.  I thank you for your constant love and presence in my life.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.