One of our family members is going through a test right now regarding a move. I got this text from them a few days ago, “We’re trying to get used to the idea that this might not happen. It’s a lesson in gratitude and faith and trust.”  Wow! So proud of them for recognizing what’s important in the middle of uncertainty. Gratitude, faith, trust.

It took me back 30 years when our family was struggling with a move. We had just returned to the USA after serving the people of a third-world country for ten years through a mission aviation group.  All of us were dealing with culture shock.  Our kids hadn’t grown up in America, and apparently, their parents forgot what it was like to shop in a grocery store, drive a car, or cope with cold.  We had only dear Husband’s tools, a few clothes that weren’t warm enough for the cool Pacific Northwest, and six kids to provide for. We had no house, no job, no furniture, no car. We had sold the house we owned before we left.  Now, no one wanted to rent to us because we had no credit or job history for the previous ten years. (And just possibly because we had six children?!)

But God provided exactly what we needed. Sometimes not exactly what we preferred; as this quote from our oldest , a senior in high school, shows, “Mom, I don’t mind garage sale clothes. But used underwear bothers me.” Or when a loving grandma asked our youngest what gift he wanted for his 5th birthday, his practical reply was, “Underwear.” During this time, the experiences of others in transition became a solid rock that grounded me. We weren’t the first to struggle with relocating. The eighth chapter of Deuteronomy grounded me in the unsteady earth under my feet.

I learned that nothing is random. God has always led his people each step. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses recapped the people’s experiences over the previous forty years and exhorted them to follow God as they were about to enter the Promised Land. He reminded them of how God had carefully led them. Never forgetting them. Always desiring their trust and obedience.

“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years . . . “ Deuteronomy 8:2

Oftentimes, as with them, it’s just one step at a time without a clear view of the next steps. They didn’t know which day or night God would lead them with his cloud or pillar of fire to the next camping spot, just as we didn’t know where God would give us a place to live.

Sometimes he leads us into times of lack. God humbles us by showing us we aren’t in control. We can’t fix our problems alone. In our need, he provides. We simply couldn’t get a house, a car, and all that we needed with the little money we had without special help from God.

“To humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna.” Deuteronomy 8:3

He wants us to gratefully depend on him. God brings us into hard places to train us to trust him. Our pride and lack of spiritual interest need correcting. He wants us to turn to him during difficulties and learn to trust him to provide everything we need. I’m intrigued that God made what his people had last instead of raining down new clothes from Heaven with the manna. He also enabled them to keep going by protecting their feet. In our case, he provided used, but still useful things that we needed- car, clothes, furniture. New isn’t always necessary. He enabled us to keep going by the kind care and encouragement of family and others.

“Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.” Deuteronomy 8:4

This training is from our heavenly Father who knows what we need to become better humans.

“Know then that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines (trains, corrects) you.” Deuteronomy 8:2-5

Dreadful places are where God’s provision is on display. God took his people to a waterless land where they couldn’t provide for themselves by digging wells or farming. Instead, he miraculously brought water out of hard rock and bread from heaven. He was training them to lean on him and obediently follow him. In the land of snakes and scorpions, (We had moved from a land of venomous snakes and scorpions so we could identify!) he tested them to see if they would faithfully trust and obey him. He wanted them to always recognize him as the blessed Source of good things. With a humble and grateful mindset, they were stronger and happier as were we.

“He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” Deuteronomy 8:15-16

You may be comfortable now, the uncertain times behind you. That’s great, but be careful! Remember the Lord your God who enables you to gain good things.

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands . . .your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 8:10-11,13-14

When we are successful and things are going well, we can slip into prideful complacency.

“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…”. Deuteronomy 8:17-18
Perhaps you have a settled place to live and material blessings, but you have uncertainty about your health, a relationship, finances, a job, or the well-being of a loved one. Maybe this would be a good time to read Deuteronomy 8 and let it sink deep into your heart. Walking in obedience and trust gives us peace and happiness on our journey to the perfect place God promises us in the next life.

“Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.  For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land . . .” Deuteronomy 8:6-7