So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:4)

When things get frightening or discouraging, we often blame who we’re following and decide we know who would be a better leader. We convince ourselves the only right reaction must be to turn in an opposite direction or return to where we once were. We’re unwilling to consider what pieces in our situations  could help us, what we need to struggle through to grow, and how we can partner with people around us even when it’s challenging.

We don’t have to like our situations but it’s important to honor God through them.

In the above verse, people’s fears and lack of understanding blinded them to God’s leading and provision so much that they wanted to return to Egypt, where they we so desperate to escape slavery. They wanted to return to a familiar situation, no matter how bad it was, instead of trusting God and growing through an uncertain situation.

We need to be willing to push through our fear and discouragement. Otherwise, we’ll miss out on what’s right in front of us.