If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a wife, mother, and follower of Jesus, it’s that life is unpredictable. It’s full of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, victories and defeats. One minute you're on top of the world, and the next you're down and out. Circumstances often become life's little dictators: I'll be happy when I'm making more money. If I could just find the right career everything would be better! I need this person in my life or I'm going to fall apart...
Depending on experiences, circumstances, or feelings puts us on shaky ground. And when that ground finally collapses we end up discouraged, disillusioned, and disoriented. The Bible tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5–6, emphasis added).
In the good times and the bad, we can lean on God. He is dependable! His word is a 'one-size-fits-all' guide to anything and everything we will face in life. Moses knew this, and as things were starting to look up for the Israelites on the borders of Canaan—a land “flowing with milk and honey”—he spoke a word of caution.
"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers" (Deut. 8:1). The Israelites relied on their 'feelings' about conquering the land twice before (Num. 13:31–33, 14:40–45), and both times their feelings failed them. Only obedience to God's commands would ensure Israel's victory against their enemies. Disobedience, their defeat.
We, too, must depend on God's word as we navigate life's ups and downs. Charles Spurgeon once said, "You have never received spiritual life by your own feelings. It was when you believed God's Word that you lived; and you will never get an increase of spiritual life, [or] grow in grace, by your own feelings or your own doings. It must still be by your believing the promises and feeding on the Word."
The word of God is our food, our anchor, our constant—not feelings, dreams, or spiritual experiences. These things have their time and place, but if we are more enthusiastic about a feeling or experience than about God's word, something is amiss. "'Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?' declares the Lord" (Jer. 23:28). Feelings dissipate and experiences fade, but the word of the Lord endures forever! God gives us His word as our foundation for living. We depend on Him for stability.
After forty harsh years in the wilderness, the beauty and abundance of Canaan probably filled the Israelites with great anticipation. But Moses warned the people not to forget the lessons they learned during that time: "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands" (Deut. 8:2). It's safe to say God already knows what's in our hearts! But how much do we really know about ourselves?
Perhaps the Israelites thought they would have no problem remaining loyal to God after witnessing His powerful deliverance from Egypt. But, on more than one occasion, the trials and obstacles of their journey proved otherwise. God will use trials to reveal sin and purify our hearts through conviction and correction. The key to transformation is trusting and relying on His Spirit's work within us—not our own efforts! God shows us what's in our hearts to keep us humble. We depend on Him for transformation.
God is always faithful, even when we're at our lowest. "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your father's had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years" (Deut. 8:3–4). The Israelites hadn't planned on a forty-year detour, especially not in an unforgiving wilderness where resources were either scarce or nonexistent. And yet God met all their needs.
True strength is found in our weakest moments. True faith in our humblest places. When the chips are down, we discover who or what we're really depending on! The Psalmist said, "I love you, O Lord, my strength... He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me" (Ps. 18:1, 17). God allows us to confront problems beyond our capability to solve. We depend on Him for strength.
God poured out His love and mercy over Israel's accomplishments as well as their failures. Both the ups and downs worked together to sanctify His chosen people—setting them apart for His purposes and shaping them into a nation that would trust, obey, and glorify Him. Moses encouraged the people, "Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you" (Deut. 8:5).
The Bible says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons," and, "...God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:7, 10–11, emphasis added). When faced with hardship we should never doubt God's love for us, but rather press into the lessons we can learn and the opportunity to grow in faith. God disciplines us through hardship to shape us. We depend on Him for sanctification.
In the Sinai wilderness, Israel needed God's intervention simply to eat and drink every day. But in the Promised Land they would be fulfilled in every way. "...the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills" (Deut. 8:7–9).
Regardless of the wealth and happiness awaiting them, Moses wanted the Israelites to retain their lifestyle of depending on God. "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God... Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied...then your heart will become proud...remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth" (Deut. 8:10–11, 12, 14, 18).
Success has its own dangers; it diminishes our need for God and deviates our dependence on Him. But the biggest problem with getting everything we want? Pride. In an effort to prevent Israel's destruction, Moses counseled the nation to walk in the ways of the Lord, revering Him and observing His commands (Deut. 8:6). He urged the people to praise God for their blessings and remember all He had done for them (v. 10, 15–16). God bestows blessings as opportunities. We depend on Him for obedience.
It's easy to cling to God when we have no other hope. But are we as close to Him when things are going well? In the deserts of life we learn to depend on God for stability and strength, transformation and sanctification. And this dependence is what keeps us walking in obedience during times of prosperity and blessing. So whether good times or bad, mountain tops or valleys, joys or sorrows, may we lean on the Lord, never forgetting the One we depend on!
Lord, we need you every day! Let our circumstances be opportunities to draw nearer to You in faith and obedience, rather than dictators that discourage and disorient us. Your word is the foundation of our lives, firm and secure—help us depend on You by walking in Your ways. Give us Your strength for our battles, Your power for our transformation, Your discipline for our sanctification. In both the ups and downs may we confidently say "You are our God!" In Jesus' name, amen.
Reflection Questions
- How would you describe your walk with the Lord? Does your faith have a firm foundation?
- How has God used trials, conviction, and correction in your own life?
- Has God come through on a problem that was beyond your ability to solve? How did this affect your dependence on Him?
- When life is going smoothly, do you notice any areas of 'drift' in your relationship with the Lord? Take these to Him in prayer.