Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.
Exodus 6:5-8

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When you read the stories of old, can you feel God speaking to you? When I read this piece of scripture, I can feel God promising me the same things he promised the Israelites. God gave them His word, which is a promise because, unlike us, He will do everything that He says he will do. It’s hard to believe that God is good when you’re facing oppression or trials. It’s hard to believe God’s promises are for you when you’ve been waiting a long time for God to answer your prayer. 

That’s where we find the Israelites in Exodus. Hardship and slavery were all they knew. Every day the only thing they had to look forward to was more heartache. Can you relate? Do you have days, months, or seasons where you don’t see, hear or feel God anywhere? I have. In December of 2019, I was two years into my marriage, feeling miserable as I sat across from my husband on our bed in our room with great fear of my marriage ending before it really started. I went to bed that night feeling like the Israelites—groaning, crying out for help, heartbroken, confused, and depressed. 

But Exodus 2:24-25 says, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  So God saw the people of Israel and God knew.” How comforting is it to know that God sees us and knows what we are going through? Not only that but He already has a solution in place. The Israelites were crying out to God and God was preparing Moses to be the leader that would lead them out of Egypt and out of slavery. 

Waiting on God to answer and move is hard, but 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I experienced God’s power in my weakness as my marriage came to an end. Something that should have broken me completely beyond repair didn’t. God actually kept me in peace which surpassed all understanding. I am not saying you won’t have days of just groaning and crying but weeping may endure for the night, and rejoicing does come in the morning (Psalm 30:5). This verse isn’t literal. It just means that yes, times may be tough, and you may find yourself lower than rock bottom—but that’s not the end of the story. God has a solution for your troubles. 

God knew who would lead the Israelites out of slavery the entire time. God knew he would have a ram in the bush for Abraham so he wouldn’t have to sacrifice his son. God knew Joshua would lead his people to the promised land. Just because our solution hasn’t reached us yet doesn’t mean that there isn’t one. Joy will come in the morning. God will deliver you from all your troubles. All of them. In his time. 

Next Steps

I want to leave you with this verse I have clung to over the years. Psalm 34:17-18 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all of their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That is God promising deliverance on your behalf. Practice trusting Him for that today.

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