How to Endure Like Moses

When Moses left Egypt with hundreds of thousands of Israelites behind him, the journey could have been 11 days. But instead, it lasted 40 years. Just stop and let that sink in. Can you imagine departing for a week-and-half-long trip, only to be wandering around for 40 years? How would you be feeling on day 12? Anxious and impatient, maybe? How do you feel when a five minutes task takes 30 minutes? Frustrated? Ready to give up? So how did Moses do it? How did he endure 40 years of being in the desert and how can we endure like Moses?

Anxious Thoughts

My daughter was exposed to COVID this week. The day I found out was a day of endless questions: Does she have to miss school tomorrow? Does she have to miss school next week? What day can she be tested so she can go back to school earlier? Do the rest of us need to stay home? If she’s COVID positive, then who else needs to stay home and how many days? Do we cancel my son’s camping trip? Does big sister go to volleyball practice? Do we still go on the marriage retreat?

As you can guess, my friend, I was exhausted. But not because my body was working out, but because my brain was running and running and going nowhere. And here’s the thing, all of our brains have been doing this for 18+ months as we deal with this virus and all its implications. Everyone I know is tired.

Can you imagine how tired Moses was? Just imagine the questions times one million: “Are we supposed to eat this stuff?” “Why can’t we just go back to Egypt?” “Where is the good water?” “Are we there yet?”

Can You Endure 40 More Years of This?

So I ask you, how will you endure 40 more years of this? All of this worry, arguing, anxiety, and isolation. What can we do on a daily basis to ensure that 40 years from now we are sane and haven’t worn ourselves out with trying to solve today’s and tomorrow’s problems on our own?

Maybe it’s not COVID that’s stressing you out. Is there something else that is lasting longer than you hoped it would? Do you have an illness that you thought would last a few days, but now has been taking over your body for months? Do you have a child you thought was going through a difficult season who has now been distant from you for years? Do you endure persecution that you thought was just a one time thing that has turned into a daily struggle?

How did Moses cope with an 11 day journey that became one-third of his life? Instead of focusing on the whole 40 years, let’s focus on daily practices that can help us endure like Moses.

Daily Practices to Help You Endure

Look Up – Moses went up Mount Sinai to see God. It’s easy to focus on all the chaos below and forget to look to God. Just the act of physically moving my eyes up towards the sky helps to calm me. In Psalm 3, we read that God is the lifter of our heads. I love that visual of God tenderly moving my face upward.

Talk to God – Moses talked to God regularly. Thankfully we can still talk to God today. How many times have you talked about a problem with a friend, then immediately felt better? God is the friend that is available 24/7. Tell Him how you’re felling and how you’re coping. Ask Him all the questions. Prayer is the act of unloading to God everything that is weighing on your mind, asking Him for help and guidance. Prayer helps us with our anxious feelings and gives us a way to speak everything that troubles us.

Listen to God – Moses listened to God and followed His commands (Mostly. There was that time with Moses hitting the rock instead of speaking to it). If we’re asking God for help and guidance, then we must be willing to listen for answers. I know that the more time I spend in God’s Word, the better equipped and confident I feel to make tough decisions. His word and His Spirit can be our guides, if we are quiet enough to listen.

Lean on Others – Moses leaned on Aaron and Hur during the battle against the Amelakites. Who do you have in your life that you can lean on when your heart is weary? Tell a friend how you are feeling or find a counselor. If you can’t think of anyone to talk to, ask God to guide you to someone.

Listen to Others – Moses followed his father-in-law’s advice when Jethro saw that Moses was bearing all the people’s burdens alone. When we are feeling burdened, we must remain humble enough to follow advice given from wise, Godly people in our lives. Let’s not be too proud to talk to someone about our troubles, and also let’s not be too proud to listen to their advice.

Click here to download a free Endure Like Moses scripture reading plan!

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”
—Corrie ten Boom

Imitate Christ

In all things, we can imitate Jesus. He is our guide on how to endure to the end. When my mind is swirling with doubts and what ifs about tomorrow or next week or next month, I remember this encouragement from Jesus: Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have enough troubles of its own.

If I’m hoping tomorrow is perfect, His words can sound like a discouragement. But the reminder to only think of today stops my mind from swirling. I’m not meant to solve tomorrow’s problems today. All I can do is focus on today.

What can you do to make today better? Whatever your this is, I hope these reminders to look to God and His Son and to lean on others will encourage you in your day. To end, here is a blessing for you. Print it and save it so you can be reminded of your strength and endurance in Christ.

A Blessing as You Endure like Moses 

Dear friend, You are a child of God and you will make it through this. All things work together for good for those that love Him. That does’t mean tomorrow will be better or that every situation ends in your favor, but one day all the trials and tribulation promised us by Jesus will be over. You are strong even in weakness because He is your strength. You will endure because He has overcome all of this already. The Lord’s presence will give you courage. Your faith in God and your trust in His nearness will get you through this desert that’s lasting longer than you expected. Your hope will help you move one step at a time, one day at a time as you look above to where your help comes from. Keep your eyes on Jesus, remembering what he experienced. He is your example of endurance and perseverance to the end. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. Grace and peace are your gift, if you will receive it. Amen.

If this post encouraged you and you’d like more, you can download the free Endure Like Moses scripture reading plan to help you with the questions, what ifs, and uncertainties. Download it here.

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