“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.”—Psalm 46:1-2
Our attitudes during times of testing can determine the outcome of our trials.
A bad attitude is often a manifestation of unbelief and a lack of gratitude.
When the children of Israel, led by Moses, complained during their desert journey, they forgot all God had done for them. They started harkening back to the “good old” days in Egypt.
“Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” they whined (Exodus 17:3).
Egypt? Were they crazy? Were they thinking of that last good meal and forgetting 400 years of abuse, beatings, and slavery?
A temporary hardship made them yearn for the past instead of a more glorious future—the one the Lord planned for them.
But Israel was learning that God tests His people through everyday experiences. He does the same with us. Each day brings new tests and opportunities to be faithful and grow —and have an attitude of gratitude and trust.
What a difference that makes to our mental well-being as we exercise faith and look to the future with hope rather than lamenting what we are missing.
When the Israelites complained to Moses (probably because they were afraid to complain to God directly), he did what any wise leader learns to do: he called on the Lord for help!
Asking for help from the Almighty is like opening the doors, letting God in, opening your heart, surrendering your will to His, and letting the Spirit act on your behalf.
God, the loving Father, helped Moses out— in spite of the behavior and attitudes of the people. He told Moses to take his rod and stand by the rock at Horeb, then, “I will stand there before you…Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:5-6).
The best part? God promised, “I will stand there before you.” The Lord was with Moses every step of the way—just as He is with us.
The rock foreshadows the Messiah, Jesus. The rod striking the rock is a picture of the cross striking Jesus, and the water represents the Holy Spirit, set free to flow with enough living water to quench the thirst of all of humanity.
In that one simple story, we can see God the Father, standing right there as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together to teach, strengthen, and bless the people.
“Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.”—Psalm 78:35
