Strength from Thorns

I’m in the Red Sea.

But a Miracle happened there

Sometimes my illness feels like standing at the edge of the Red Sea.

Behind the Israelites were Pharaoh’s army and in front of them was a HUGE sea that looked impossible to cross. There was no way around it, no “ALEXA CHANGE DIRECTIONS”, no plan B. Every illusion of control disappeared in that moment and honestly… that’s what chronic illness feels like.

You try everything you can to go around it. Doctors, treatments, supplements, pacing, eating healthy, prayers for healing. You keep looking for the easiest path forward, hoping there’s some way to avoid the giant sea in front of you. But eventually you reach the edge and realize there is no way around it. You’re standing face to face to face with something way bigger than you, a huge sea that won’t move and why would it? How could it? It’s a SEA!

The Israelites were terrified when they stood there. Scripture says they cried out in fear. They felt trapped and questioned everything. I understand that kind of fear.

Some days this illness feels like that sea in front of me is calm and beautiful, I could lay there all day and other days it is overwhelming, unpredictable, and far bigger than anything I can ever control. It strips away everything I once relied on. My independence. My strength. My plans. My inability to feel safe….Until all that is left is my raw identity and relationship with Christ. When I think about Moses and the Red Sea story, I realize something. Just when the Israelites thought it was the end of the road for them, that was actually the place where God was about to show how much power He had over what appeared to be an impossible situation. When there was no path forward, God made one in the most miraculous way.

Moses stood there with panicked people all around him, an army charging toward them from behind and a massive sea in front of them. They were completely surrounded. Fear was everywhere. But Moses reminded them of something they were forgetting in the middle of their panic:

“The Lord will fight for you; you won’t need to lift a finger!” Exodus 14:14.

Ok, Gina… GOD’S GOT THIS! You don’t need to lift a finger!!!!! Say it again. Say it again…. Again…. Now again until you actually BELIEVE IT.

Then God says something to Moses that completely shocks me.

“Quit praying and get the people moving! March… to the Sea!!” Exodus 14:15

Before the waters ever parted, God asked them to trust Him enough to step toward the impossible. Just imagine that. Would you take the step?

And maybe faith sometimes looks like that.

Not having all the answers. Not seeing the path yet.

Staring the giant into the face but trusting that no matter how big, grim and scary it all seems, First, I need to take the bold step in faith and then God will part the sea.

“Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬-‭22‬

I often think how uneventful that story would have been if they just went around.

No miracle.

No walls of water.

No moment where God proved He is stronger than the impossible.

Maybe that’s why sometimes God doesn’t lead us around because the miracle can only happen when we walk through 💜

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