As I go through the Book of Numbers in the Bible, I realize it is not the easiest book to understand, primarily because of its many laws and sacrifices to redeem the Israelites.Yet, as I read, I recognize some valuable lessons for all of us.
The Israelites’ journey was marked by a continuous cycle of complaining and murmuring. It is said that a journey that should have taken approximately eleven days ended up lasting forty years. As I continue reading, I notice a pattern—each time the Israelites complained and God became angry, their course changed. This meant they had to remain in areas longer than necessary, wait for specific periods before continuing, or even reroute at times.
Then a thought came to me—What if all they needed was gratitude? What if they had simply been thankful for being delivered from circumstances far worse, rather than focusing on what they lacked or their discomfort? Unfortunately, they could not see that.
Isn’t that how we are today as Christians? Rather than trusting God when situations do not align with our expectations, we question Him. Our faith wavers and our trust in Him weakens, and we attempt to take control of our circumstances. But what if we fully surrendered? What if we trusted His plans for us, knowing that what He has in store is far greater than what we could design or plan for ourselves? Could that trust prevent some of the delays we experience in life?
What if gratitude is the key to avoiding unnecessary hardships—those moments of rerouting, of waiting longer than we would like, or being stuck in situations longer than we should? Don’t get me wrong; I believe there is a process to life, one that we must go through to become the best versions of ourselves. But the question is, how do we handle that process? How do we navigate the required waiting periods?
Do we complain and murmur, looking back longingly at a past that no longer serves us? Or do we choose gratitude and grace, despite things not unfolding as we had hoped?
Gratitude I believe is the missing element in most of our lives—the shift that transforms our experience. Trust is crucial in our relationship with God and so is surrender. We must let go of the reins even as we move forward. We must believe in God’s goodness and embrace His plans, knowing they surpass anything we could create for ourselves.
We must yield to His plans, accept them, and desire them for our lives.
So, what if we made gratitude a lifestyle? What if we learned to trust and surrender completely?
Lots of light and love.