Episode 9- Faith through obstacles
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[00:00:00] Have you ever faced a challenge that you just wished God would simply remove from your path? Oftentimes rather than take our problems away. God leads us straight through them just as he led the Israelites through the red sea. He doesn't always remove our obstacles, but promises to guide us through them in faith. We're reminded to embrace challenges as part of God's plan trust in His perfect timing step into the unknown with faith and find comfort in His constant presence this message encourages the Christian career mom to view their challenges as opportunities And trust that God is with them on this journey
Hey friends, it's Katy, host of the Christian Career Mom podcast, founder of Covenant Collections Christian Parenting Company, and author of Christian children's book, Happy Are the People. Whether it's your first time listening or you've been [00:01:00] here with us before, the Christian Career Mom exists to remind us all that while busy is an often unavoidable state of being, it is not a badge of honor and it is not a measure of our worth.
God gives us everything we will ever need to thrive in our careers, our personal lives, our families, and most importantly, our faith. We explore all the ways to tap into that God given grace here and find fulfillment in all areas of our lives. It's so important to have a supportive community to lean on, and that's exactly what we're here for.
So grab a cup of coffee or your favorite drink, find a cozy spot to listen, and let's dive in. It's you, babe.
Hi friends. And welcome to episode nine. I'm excited for this message because it's something so important to realize in general, but especially as a Christian career, mom navigating a journey filled with both blessings and challenges. Balancing the demands of work, family and faith can sometimes feel like trying to cross a [00:02:00] vast and turbulent sea. But as we reflect on the story of the Israelites escaping Egypt, we can find profound wisdom and inspiration for our own lives. So in case you weren't familiar, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.
Pharaoh had been awful to them even ordering that the first born male babies of all Israelites were to be killed because he was so. So afraid that they would revolt against him. Moses, his mother did not let this happen to her son and she placed him in a basket and left him where Pharaoh's daughter often bathed in the river. He ended up being saved and then raised by Pharaoh's daughter among the Egyptians. One of my favorite parts of this story is that when Pharaoh's daughter sent for a nurse that could help care for this baby. It was Moses's mother who was chosen. I love how God worked in that way to allow his real mother to also be with him. He had a comfortable life growing up in the palace. And [00:03:00] as he grew up, he started to get angry about the way the Egyptians treated the Israelites. And he even killed an Egyptian who had been mistreating an Israelite, and then he fled. After this is when God appeared to him from the burning Bush and told him his responsibility of leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses was afraid. Moses felt unworthy and Moses was reluctant to accept that he was the best person for the job, but God makes no mistakes. And his instruction was very clear. There were many plagues, there were many setbacks, many challenges, and so on. But Moses did eventually free the Israelites from Egypt with Pharaoh, allowing them to go. Yet after they had gone, Pharaoh changed his mind and he and his army chased after them. The people doubted and they even claimed that they would have been better off if they had stayed because they couldn't see a way through the obstacles they had to face to [00:04:00] escape their enemies. At this point, going back to a life of slavery and abuse seemed better to them than going through their challenges. Yet God parted the red sea. He didn't dry it up and make it a non-issue. He didn't guide them on a path around it. He didn't give them an option that allowed them to not have to face, fear or challenge. He parted the sea and sent them straight through it. Imagine the fear and doubt the people may have felt as they walked on dry land, surrounded by a raging sea on both sides. That could have come crashing down just as easily as it was parted for them. And yet. God needed them to face this in order to gain trust and faith in his power and his provision, he led the Israelites. All the way through and he drowned their enemies, Pharaoh and the Egyptians in the sea. This showed without any doubt that God had been in complete control the [00:05:00] entire time. That he could have allowed all the Israelites to die to. He could have even just struck them all down without bothering with the sea to begin with and let the Israelites escape without any fear of being pursued. But there is a purpose to our obstacles. There is a growth that comes from enduring and overcoming challenges. There is an enhanced faith that comes from relying on God and having Him with us as we fight our battles. We might pray that God takes our battle away. That He removes that hardship from our path and maybe He won't. But does that mean that He hasn't heard or answered our prayers? No. He often answers those prayers by making a way for us to go directly through our challenges in faith. And promising to be with us every step of the way. If we allow fear and doubt to keep us from moving forward, we will fail. And we may even be overtaken by the battle. This story offers [00:06:00] invaluable lessons for us as we face the challenges in our modern lives. Life as a parent in general. A, mom, a working mom, stay at home moms single or married. It doesn't matter, no matter what combination of things. Your life has made up of it comes with challenges. Balancing the demands of work, family and faith can sometimes feel like trying to cross a vast and turbulent sea. One where we might even begin to wonder if we were better off before trying to move forward. But as we reflect on the story of the Israelites escaping Egypt, we can find profound wisdom and inspiration for our own lives. So there are four really strong lessons. I want us to take away from this message today. Number one. Embracing challenges as part of God's plan. When the Israelites found themselves trapped between the red sea and Pharaoh's army, it seemed like an impossible situation. They even questioned why God led them into such [00:07:00] a predicament. Similarly, we often encounter daunting challenges that make us question God's plan for our lives. But remember God allowed the Israelites to face this obstacle for a reason. He had a greater purpose in mind to demonstrate his power and faithfulness. And just like that the challenges we face in our careers and our lives and our families are not random. They are opportunities for God to reveal His glory through us, to test our faith. Number two. Trusting in God's timing. When Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the waters did not just immediately part. They stood as a formidable wall on either side requiring that the Israelites step out in faith before the path became immediately clear. This reminds us that God's timing is not always aligned with ours and He may require us to take a leap of faith. [00:08:00] We often desire instant solutions to our problems or easy fixes. We want a smooth path free of obstacles. However. God's timing is perfect and His plan is perfect and He calls us to trust Him even when the path ahead seems uncertain. It's in those moments of waiting that our faith is refined and strengthened. Number three, stepping into the unknown. Walking through the parted red sea must have been a surreal experience for the Israelites. They were stepping into the unknown with walls of water looming over them. Yet, they had faith that God would guide them safely to the other side. Similarly as Christian career moms, we're often called to step in to uncharted territory. Whether it's pursuing a new opportunity in our career facing a family crisis or making just any difficult decision. We must remember that God is with us. We can find comfort in knowing that just as He guided [00:09:00] the Israelites through the sea, He will guide us through our challenges. And number four, the presence of God. One of the most reassuring aspects of the Israelites journey through the red sea is the constant presence of God. He was with them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God never left their side. He guided them in the direction. He wanted them to go and He even provided light for their paths. In our own lives, we can take solace in the fact that God is always with us, no matter how stormy the waters may become. He walks beside us in our careers. He strengthens us in our roles as mothers, and he provides guidance in our faith journey. We are literally never alone. So please remember this when you're facing challenges in your lives, just as the Israelites face, the daunting red sea, we encounter obstacles that can seem insurmountable, but the story of the red sea [00:10:00] reminds us that God's ways are not our ways and His plans and His ways are far greater than we can even imagine. God may not always remove our obstacles or take our problems away, but He promises to be with us as we navigate through them in faith. Trust that it is God's will for us. And there will be a way for us to make it through. The challenges we face are opportunities for God to demonstrate his power and faithfulness in our lives. And they are opportunities for us to demonstrate our trust and our faith in Him. So let us embrace the challenges. Trust in God's timing. Step into the unknown with faith and take, comfort in His constant presence. Just as He led the Israelites through the red sea, He will lead us through the challenges in our lives, making a way. Where there seems to be no way.
Now I want to offer you something amazing. And then I'd like to pray for you. So hang with me for just a few more minutes. Are you a Christian parent? Who's also a [00:11:00] very strong leader in your life and your career or in your community. Have you ever seen the effectiveness of your leadership and considered how that could be absolutely transformational if applied in your home with your families? Do you desire to use your leadership skills to transform your parenting journey and create a home filled with peace, harmony and efficiency. If that sounds anything like you, then you will love our new completely free program designed exclusively to understand our leadership styles. And then apply them to our parenting in ways that will turn your home into a thriving environment that will run so smoothly. You question how it's even possible. I'm so excited about this program because I know how completely transformational it is. And I want every single one of you to have the opportunity to learn from it. You can join the waitlist today at www.covenantcollections.com/leadership style [00:12:00] and be among the first to access this invaluable resource that will provide you with clarity and empower you to lead your family with purpose. Effective leadership. Isn't just limited to the workplace. It's also the key to effective parenting. Our program will equip you with the tools and the strategies to leverage your leadership style, to strengthen your family. Bonds communicate more effectively within your homes and create a loving and harmonious environment for your family. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your parenting skills to the next level. Join our waitlist now and embark on a journey towards becoming the best Christian leader and parent, you can be. Again, that's at www.covenantcollections.com/leadership style. And I will also link that in the notes. Now, please pray with me. If you don't mind. Heavenly father. We come before you today with hearts full of gratitude for your presence in our lives. You are the God who guided the Israelites out of [00:13:00] Egypt. And we trust that you are the same God who guides us through the challenges we face in our own lives. No matter how big or small. Lord, we recognize that life can often feel filled with obstacles and uncertainties. We thank you for the message from the story of the red sea, reminding us that you do not always remove our obstacles, but you make a way for us to go through them in faith. As we reflect on this message, I pray for wisdom and understanding of everyone that's listening. Help us all to embrace the challenges in our lives as opportunities. To see your power and faithfulness at work. Strengthen our trust in your perfect timing. Even when the path ahead seems unclear. Give us the courage to step into the unknown with unwavering faith, knowing that you are with us every step of the way. Lord we ask that you speak directly to our hearts through this message. Open our eyes to see your hand in our lives and open our ears to hear your voice of comfort and guidance. May this message resonate deep within our souls, [00:14:00] reminding us that we are never alone on this journey. We pray for all the Christian career moms out there who are facing their own red seas. May they find encouragement and hope in knowing that you are the God who parted the waters for the Israelites and who makes a way for us today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Wait a second, let me say something else. Um, what I can say again? Hope you like the podcast!
I just learned how to say it! Leave my mommy a review!
I'm learning!
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