This road gets a little rugged sometimes, doesn’t it?  But, by faith, we know that Christ is with us.   Despite daily pressures (seen and unseen) Jesus is God forever and He never changes. Just as He led Moses and the Israelites in the desert, He will lead us in our wilderness.

As Matthew Henry tells us, “Those who make the glory of God their end, and the word of God their rule, the Spirit of God the guide of their affections, and the providence of God the guide of their affairs, may be sure that the Lord goes before them, though they cannot see it with their eyes: we must now live by faith.”

If you are weak or weary today,  if your mind is dogged by all kinds of  “what ifs”, I pray you are encouraged by this little gem of truth that Andrew Bonar so beautifully captures.

“Their past experience was not of great use to the Israelites in their journeyings.  They needed always to consult God.  If you think you will get through anything because you got through before, you will certainly fail.  You must ask fresh counsel of God and consult with him continually; and since the pillar cloud and not your own experience is your guide, see that you make it so.  Perhaps some Israelite, looking on the burning all around and thinking of the scorching heat, would say, ‘What if this continue?  What if that friend should die?  What if the little ones be worn out?’  Let us follow the pillar-cloud and not trouble ourselves with ‘ ifs.'” (Heavenly Springs, page 19-20)

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” (Exodus 13:21)