Exodus 13:17-18

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

Life can roll along pretty easily, but sometimes.......

Things can be simple to explain, but sometimes......

Situations seem to have obvious solutions, but sometimes.......

People understand your choices, but sometimes.......

Depression can be overcome, but sometimes......

Stress can be relieved, but sometimes.........

Sometimes you reach the Red Sea and need the Wind.

Sometimes there seems to be no way to escape the enemy's quick approach.

Sometimes you look ahead and see a wall of water that cannot be crossed without some type of intervention or big decision, because the words, "Build a bridge and get over it," just aren't enough to span the breadth of the mighty raging waters.

Sometimes you look up and say, 'What now, God?"

Yesterday was a Red Sea kind-of day. 

Dr. Cook felt confident that Olivia's dizziness and ringing in her ears are all due to a very bad inner ear infection.  Thank you for all of your prayers and encouraging words. I feel ashamed that I slipped into such anxiety about her symptoms, but the memories of Nick overtook my heart in a such a powerful way.

Maybe the depth of my anguish came more from the changes I've seen in her spirit in the past few months.  Her giggly, bubbly sparkle has disappeared.  She's been slipping for a while now into a sadness that we haven't been able to explain..

Delayed grief, heightened anxiety and fears, tough situations at school, and the list goes on and on........

She had a meltdown with Dr. Cook.

I had a meltdown after we got home.

Medicine and a huge decision to pull her out of her school, having her finish the year where I teach, seemed to be the only way across this Red Sea.

She seems calmer.

She slept more peacefully.

Ironically, we are on an hour delay this morning due to high water from heavy rain all through the night.  High water.  God seems to speak through high water.

God led the Israelites "toward the Red Sea."  He had a plan.  He wasn't shocked when they reached this point of total dependence upon Him. 

I never really thought about how the Israelites must have felt after they crossed the sea.  Looking back to see the swelling water once again flowing at a mighty speed and knowing that there was "no going back" must have brought both a feeling of relief and a feeling of fear.

The sea behind them. 

The wilderness ahead of them. 

All because of His mighty Wind.

Talk about being in a place of total dependence on the One who was leading them.

He's the wind that parts the sea.

And for us, He made it clear yesterday that it was time to cross through to another land.

If you are facing a Red Sea kind-of day, week, month, or year, remember that God is with you.  He isn't shocked.

I can honestly say that the only way across is by getting on your knees and looking up......

Because sometimes you need the Wind.

Walking into an unknown land with an all-knowing God who has a plan,