The Part of God’s Will Nobody Wants

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyIRa4RseNw

Exodus 14:10–14 (ESV)

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord.

11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?

12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

I. Stay Put — God Is Still in Control

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel were overwhelmed with fear. What they saw around them caused them to forget what God had already done for them.

Israel had just witnessed miracle after miracle:

• The ten plagues in Egypt

• The Passover deliverance

• Their freedom from centuries of slavery

Yet when they saw the Egyptian army approaching, fear took control.

Fear often grows when we focus only on what we can see.

Moses responded with a command rooted in faith.

Exodus 14:13

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD.”

God sometimes leads His people to places where the only possible outcome is that He intervenes.

If there had been a bridge across the Red Sea, Israel would have crossed quietly.

But because the sea parted, the miracle has been told for generations.

II. Trust Deeply — God Sees What We Cannot See

One of the most difficult parts of walking with God is that we rarely see the full picture of what He is doing.

Our vision is limited to the present moment.

God sees the entire story.

Isaiah 55:8–9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

When circumstances are painful, confusing, or delayed, we often assume something is wrong.

But God is working at a level we cannot yet see.

What looks like a detour may actually be divine direction.

III. Lean Closer to Christ

Pain often pushes people in one of two directions.

• Away from God

• Toward God

On the night before Jesus went to the cross, the disciples were troubled and confused. Yet one disciple remained close to Him.

John 13:23

“One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side.”

John leaned closer to Christ rather than pulling away.

Difficult seasons reveal where we place our trust.

When life is easy, we rely on:

• Our plans

• Our strength

• Our strategies

But when life becomes painful or uncertain, we discover how much we truly need Him.

James 4:8

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

Psalm 34:18

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Prayer becomes the place where we bring our fears, questions, and burdens before God.

IV. Rely Completely — God Allows What Drives Us to Depend on Him

A common phrase people say is:

“God will never give you more than you can handle.”

While well-intended, Scripture does not teach that life will remain within our personal capacity.

Instead, the Bible shows that God sometimes allows circumstances that exceed our strength so that we depend on His strength.

The truth is this:

The storm will come, but we know the One who calms the storm.

Storms reveal:

• Our source of stability

• Our relationship to reality

• Our perspective about pain

There is purpose in your pain.

V. Shine — Trials Become Platforms for God’s Glory

When believers walk through hardship with faith, their lives begin to shine.

Trials are not merely obstacles to endure. In God’s providence, they become platforms where His faithfulness is displayed.

Matthew 5:14–16

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The light of Christ becomes most visible in the darkness.

When believers respond to difficulty with:

• Prayer

• Faith

• Perseverance

Others see that something deeper is sustaining them.

1 Peter 1:6–7

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…”

God uses trials to refine faith like gold in fire.

Storm Checklist

During difficult seasons we need:

• People to walk with us

• Power to sustain us

• Promises to assure us

• Perspective to calm us

Final Truth

Stay Put

Trust Deeply

Lean Closer

Rely Completely

Shine

When we face the part of God’s will nobody wants, we remember this truth:

God is still writing the story.