10/30/2026
Do we want God’s will when we dislike the conditions?
Israel arrived at Rephidim “according to the commandment of the LORD”
yet there was no water to drink.
They had followed God’s direction into a difficult place. Their thirst was real.
Their discomfort did not cancel God’s direction.
How often do we judge whether we are in God’s will primarily by how a situation makes us feel?
Discomfort alone cannot answer that question. We must consider what God has actually said.
Looking back over the wilderness journey, Moses explained that God used it “to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart”
(Deuteronomy 8:2).
The journey revealed the "within" factor. What was within their heart that needed to be dealt with?
Our experiences can reveal something in us, too.
We may think we are patient until we must wait. We may think we are teachable until someone corrects us.
We may think we are gracious until someone disappoints us.
Sometimes, “I cannot grow here” means, “I do not like what this situation requires of me.”
That is a searching thought for all of us.
Some circumstances need to change. Our response may also need to change.
Difficulty by itself does not prove that God wants us to stay or that He wants us to leave. We need His Word, wisdom, and a willing heart.
As we pray about our circumstances, let’s also ask
“Lord, am I willing to let You address what this experience is revealing in me?”
Help us trust Your direction and remain teachable, even when we dislike the conditions.
Exodus 17:1–7 Deuteronomy 8:2
