At the beginning of quarantine, I know many of us set life-bettering goals. With an unknown amount of time stretching out before us, we dreamed of how we could use this season to grow and change for the better.

I’m not sure about you, but my plans didn’t turn out exactly how I’d hoped. I’ve (surprisingly) been able to keep up some important habits, but it doesn’t quite feel like I’m changing my life over here.

As a family, we been talking about what God might have for us during this quarantine. I liked the idea at the beginning, but as the months dragged on, I switched to “just survive this” mode.

I knew I could probably learn something big and life altering from the Lord during this time, I just didn’t have the willpower or presence of mind to really care. Just getting my schoolwork done seemed like enough.

So, for awhile, I gave up on the Lord’s plans for me in this season. Though I was relying on him for strength to get through this, I didn’t trusting his plan in it.

COMPLAINING AND UNBELIEF

In Exodus 17, the Israelites were camped out in the wilderness, and began to complain about their thirst.

The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”

Exodus 17:1-2 (NIV)

Their complaining itself is obviously wrong. But it goes even deeper than that. This wasn’t the first time the Israelites have been thirsty. Take a look at Exodus 15.

²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.

Exodus 15: 23-25a

When the Israelites were thirsty before, the Lord provided for them even though they grumbled. And yet, the second they’re thirsty again, they begin to complain against the Lord again.

If the Israelites were really trusting God, they’d be excitedly waiting to see what God would do this time. Even when the Israelites complain, though, God provides.

GOD WILL PROVIDE

The Israelites’ grumbling against the Lord showed that they didn’t trust him to provide. Though had proven himself again and again, they didn’t believe that he would take care of them.

COVID-19 is a difficult time. So many things we enjoy have been stripped away. But even in this wilderness, God provides.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:10 (NIV)

Lions are strong and capable beasts, and even they grow weak and hungry. Unlike them, we never need to be in want, because the Lord provides for us.

When we complain during this season (it’s so easy to do!), we, like the Israelites, are not trusting God. But we know that he provides! Rather than complaining, ask God for strength to trust him.

HE HAS ORDAINED THIS WILDERNESS

God doesn’t only provide in this wilderness, he has ordained it specifically for you.

It’s easy to slip into survival mode during and just try and get through this. We ask God for strength, without pressing in to see what he is teaching us.

Because everyone is going through the same thing, it seems strange that God has plans specifically for you, but he does. He knows what you look to that isn’t him, knows the sin you struggle with and the idols you just can’t let go of. He uses wilderness seasons like this to strip those things away from us so we cling to him alone.

Though you may never know the purpose of the trials in your life, there is purpose. God has ordained this wilderness for you. So, wait and see what he will do.

In this season, instead of stressing about what might happen, or complaining about what isn’t happening, pray and wait expectantly for God. Be excited about what he is doing in this season.