“How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert.” Psalm 78:40

Grieving God

The Lord keeps bringing me back to the word TRUST. I’ve been reflecting on the challenges to our trust. It’s easy to trust when things are going well…but the rubber really meets the road when hard things come our way.

When that happens, it’s amazing how easily and quickly resentment and anger can enter in if we’re not careful. We don’t deserve this! Aren’t we faithfully serving the Lord? Why would He allow this to happen? Am I being punished? A small seed of rebellion can enter into our hearts without us realizing it unless we are on guard.

Maybe that’s what happened to the children of Israel in the desert. They were rejoicing that God had rescued them from Pharaoh in Egypt. They had seen amazing miracles that had enabled them to be released from Pharaoh’s iron-clad grip. But soon the hard days in the wilderness wore on them—even though they had daily manna to feed them, a pillar of cloud to guide them during the day, and a pillar of fire to give them light at night!

They got tired of manna. Life in the desert wasn’t very pleasant. It wasn’t what they expected. They started grumbling. They even began to think that things were better under the brutal slavery of Pharaoh. A seed of rebellion began to destroy their hearts. They eventually turned to golden idols. And it all started with a lack of trust in their hearts towards God and what He was doing and allowing in their lives.

In a conversation with a friend a few weeks ago, my friend mentioned how the children of Israel “grieved the Lord in the desert/wilderness.” The phrase pierced my heart! I haven’t been able to get it off my mind. It keeps coming back to me again and again.

I’ve been in a desert/wilderness for a long time now. I’ve had a type of “manna” each day as I’ve sensed the Lord’s goodness and presence with me. He has definitely led me day by day—and been with me with the light of His Spirit on the dark, hard nights. I certainly don’t want to grieve the Lord in the midst of this journey! Thinking of this has sharpened my awareness, my spiritual sensitivity to be careful. I want to make sure I’m responding right to the trials I’m walking through. God has been so very faithful to me. I would hate to grieve His heart.

There will always be some desert and wilderness times in our life as long as we live on this earth. I think we must purpose in our hearts before they come that we don’t want to grieve the Lord…that we will trust Him completely. If we have that sure foundation and commitment in place, it will help us when the hard times come.

Lord, when the trials don’t seem to stop coming, and when we face stresses and battles around every corner, we look to You. Help us to guard our hearts in the wilderness, and to know You will use it for our good. We never want to grieve You.