Crossing the Red Sea

We all have a Red Sea to cross—a seemingly impossible and insurmountable obstacle that we face in our lives or faith.

I’ve had (and do have) plenty of Red Sea moments and hindrances. In a surprising turn of events last spring, the Lord called me to cross a new kind of Red Sea. He opened the door to begin a new work, to do something I’ve never done before. It required “putting myself out there” and going into uncharted waters.

I had the idea, the inspiration, and, even more importantly, the green light from God to go forward (which is much more rare than ideas or inspiration if we’re honest). However, once I started, I couldn’t find a way to make it work. For several weeks, I felt like I was banging my head against a wall to find the right path. I prayed and prayed about it, but I just couldn’t find my way through. I gave up, set it down, then came back again, repeat.

Then one night, I had a dream. In it, I was standing on one side of the Red Sea and I couldn’t get across. I knew that the Red Sea represented the obstacles I was facing. I stood there in the dream, looking at the immense body of water in front of me, and I felt stuck. I didn’t know how to get to the other side and felt completely overwhelmed and discouraged.

I pulled awake for a moment, like I was coming up for air, and prayed, “Lord, I can’t do it!” Instantly, I saw an image of Jesus taking my hand and pulling me across to the other side. I was only awake for a few seconds, but that image filled me with such peace. I fell back to sleep and slept soundly for the rest of the night.

The project did finally take shape over the following weeks. The Lord did show me a way across. But even now, months later and many steps into this new work, I still come against blockades. And I still have doubts as I think of the “wilderness of new” that lies ahead.

Every time I come against a wall, I remember that dream and that picture of Jesus pulling me through. I believe He will do it. Do you?

We each have a “Red Sea” in our lives. I’ve crossed Red Seas of illness, loss, disappointment, and betrayal. Still others stretch in front of me. For you, you might be facing the Red Sea of adoption, infertility, or illness. Maybe it’s the seemingly impossible path to reconciliation in your marriage or with one of your children. Perhaps it’s the prodigal or unbeliever that seems so far removed from the heart of God.

I assure you, I don’t have dreams like that every time I have a problem. I’m sharing it to encourage you that God will speak when you cry out, “Lord, I can’t do it!” And Jesus will come near, take your hand, and pull you through. It might not happen overnight like it did for the Israelites, but it will happen. God will bring you through.

“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV)

2 Comments

  1. Reminds me of 2nd Corinthians chapter one that says we have this sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the Dead. I’m in this place now. I can’t do it. Like the man in Romans 7, I can’t seem to do what I would like to do. I need the exchange life of yet not I, but Christ in me. Of all the Little Red Sea moments in my life right now, the biggest Red Sea is crossing over from Romans chapter 7 to Romans chapter 8. One of my favorite books is Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, and then there’s also a book that features his story in it, called They Found the Secret, also talking about the exchange to life. This is what I need and pray for.

    1. I’ll pray for that exchange by the power of the Holy Spirit! We all need that shift daily, but I know what you mean about wanting to cross over and see a radical once-for-all kind of shift that sets the tone going forward! I love both of those books so much. We really are kindred spirits.

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