The “Red Sea” in Our Life

“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.”

(PROVERBS 3:5,6 )

Our life is a yo-yo. It’s a ship that sails in the high sea, sometimes calm, sometimes rough and even fearful. It never runs smoothly. As long as life exists, problems are bound to be present. They only differ in degrees of toughness among each and every one of us. Nobody is exempted, rich or poor, young or old. It is as though we were born to suffer, for didn’t we utter our first cry the day we were born? Right through life we appear to be crying out for things, and when we finally die, we stop crying but others cry for us.

Inevitably, we’ll be confronted with the ”Red Sea” in our life. It may be a career problem that seems insurmountable. It may be our marriage that seems to be failing. Or it could be a health problem that will stamp us with an untimely demise. Whatever the situation, it is evident that our life will always be in a state of flux; nothing can ever remain the same.

Changes are ever present. There is no permanency in life. Sweetness can turn sour. Freshness can become stale. Human beings live by sight and act upon what we see. Life is one big drama and God is right in the midst of it. At the “Red Sea” there was no way out without God, for no one else could claim the glory except God. That’s the way it is.

We tend to rationalise and justify for all happenings. The defenceless Israelites cried out, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Ex. 14:11b-12). We are such faithless creatures. The dramatics of life works us up. We begin to apportion blame on God. Like the Israelites, we never learn. If only we learn to turn all odds to God Proverbs 3:5, 6 says it all: “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.”

Whatever the circumstances

Remember in all instances

God’s always in control.

Paul Chong

A Chinese by Descent

An Australian by Consent