What steps can we take to rely on God during life's challenges? The Wilderness Moment—Genesis 21:14 “So Abraham got up early the next morning, took some bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar. Placing them on her shoulder, he sent her away with the boy. She departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.” Seeing Ourselves in Hagar’s Shoes • A loaf of bread and a skin of water—that’s it. • A hot, unforgiving desert with no clear path. • Yet God’s plan was unfolding, even when supplies and direction looked painfully thin. Step 1 – Start the Day Acknowledging God’s Sovereign Hand • Abraham “got up early.” Rising early signals intentional dependence. • Psalm 5:3—“In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” • Practical move: carve out first moments each day to surrender plans, needs, fears. Step 2 – Receive and Use the Provision at Hand • Bread and water looked small, yet came directly from God’s covenant line. • Philippians 4:19—“My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” • Inventory today’s “bread and water”: talents, relationships, opportunities, Scripture itself. Steward them without despising their size. Step 3 – Walk Forward Even When the Route Seems Undefined • “Hagar… wandered.” She moved, not camped in despair. • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Keep taking the next faithful step—submit a résumé, make the phone call, attend the appointment—trusting God to shape the larger map. Step 4 – Cry Out, Knowing God Hears in the Heat • Later in the story (v. 16-17) Hagar weeps, and “God heard the boy.” • Psalm 34:18—“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” • Pour out fears honestly; God’s ear is attentive, not distant. Step 5 – Expect God to Open Your Eyes to Fresh Resources • Verse 19—“Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water.” • 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises a “way of escape” with every trial. • Stay alert for unexpected provisions—an encouraging call, a scripture that leaps off the page, a job lead you hadn’t considered. Step 6 – Live Confidently in God’s Ongoing Presence • Genesis 21:20—“God was with the boy as he grew.” • Hebrews 13:5—“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” • Challenges shift, deserts change, but God’s company is fixed. Rely on that steady presence rather than fluctuating circumstances. Putting It All Together 1. Greet each day by acknowledging God’s rule. 2. Use what He’s already placed in your hands. 3. Take the next obedient step even without full clarity. 4. Cry out when the heat presses in—He hears. 5. Watch for wells He reveals at just-right moments. 6. Rest in His continual presence as you journey onward. Following these steps does not remove the wilderness, but it transforms it—from a place of panic into a classroom of trust where God’s faithfulness becomes unmistakably clear. |
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