God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14, ESV)
The snow was pelting the plane when the wheels dropped out of the underbelly, and bleak visibility shrouded our descent when our momentum veered upward. As a seasoned traveler, I was more annoyed than worried. We were already behind schedule and this would delay our already late arrival. The captain’s voice echoed through the PA system that we had overshot the runway due to a sudden shift in wind direction.
After our eventual landing, I started thinking about how sudden wind shifts are like the sudden changes that happen in our lives. In a split second, life-altering bad news or unexpected disappointments can leave us feeling alone and that God doesn’t care.
A few of my sudden wind shifts have been the melanoma cancer that ravaged my mom’s brain, the decision to walk away from professional golf without knowing what is next, and unexpected broken relationships.
Jesus can handle our resistance. He can handle our questions. And he will send people to you and me to help us remember.Moses was affected by such a sudden wind shift while he was out shepherding his sheep. A burning bush disrupted an ordinary day and his life was never the same. Moses bantered with God and tried everything to reject this sudden change. He wanted no part in what God asked of him; confronting Pharaoh must have felt like a death sentence to Moses.
The unanswered questions that inhabit our sudden shifts can feel overwhelming. We resist. We shut down. We run. In these moments, we must remember to remain steadfast and be intentional to remember that God does care and is with us.
I AM WHO I AM. God’s presence exists.
If we journey into the Gospel of John, we find the presence of I AM manifested in Jesus as well. In his seven I am statements, Jesus describes himself as nourishing food, illumination of truth, the open gate to salvation, leader and defender, resurrection, the way to the fullness of life, and our support.
Jesus is everything we need to face any sudden wind shift. He can handle our resistance. He can handle our questions. And he will send people to you and me to help us remember.
Are you experiencing a sudden wind shift in your life? I AM WHO I AM is near.
—
Tracy Hanson
February 28, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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