When things get worse instead of better
Lent Reflections #6 2026 from author Alison Lloyd
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the desert of Shur. For three days they travelled in the desert without finding water when they came to Marah, they could not drink its waters because it was bitter.
So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, ‘What are we to drink?’
Exodus 15:22
Sometimes, when I do what I think God would like me to do, it doesn’t turn out. At least, the way I expect. I hope to be successful. I hope for a pretty smooth ride. Didn’t God promise to help me? He promised to help His people in yesterday’s verse, and I’m taking that as the same thing. Then why is this project, or this goal of mine, turning out to be so frustrating? Or so unfruitful? How can I go on when I’m out of energy, or enthusiasm, or ideas?
Like the Israelites in the desert, I’m basically saying, ‘you’ve led me into a hole here, God. I’m worse off than before.’
‘There he tested them,’ comments v25. It seems God sometimes lets me reach the end of my tether, on purpose. How dare He?! Apparently he meant to show the Israelites, and me, what we’re like – limited, and fundamentally dependent on Him for the basics. He isn’t interested on taking me on a 5-star holiday experience through life. He’s interested in developing a searingly truthful and trustful relationship with me.
The end of this episode is that the Lord fixes the water. He makes it sweet and drinkable. Then He leads the Israelites somewhere really nice called Elim, which has seventy palm trees and no less than twelve springs of water. No difficult interlude lasts forever. Although some of them last a lot longer than I feel I can take.
Lord, I’m sorry when I’m that kid who complains on every steep section of a hike. I’m glad you have me along anyway. Thanks for the parts I don’t like, because they serve a purpose. They’re necessary way-stops. I trust you that even the bitter bits are going to taste sweet one day.
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