On God’s Shoulders

"....and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place” (Deuteronomy 1:31).

A mother receives a message from her daughter who is studying overseas. She reads the message line by line.

"Mom, forgive me. Don't be shocked, Mom. But, it turns out I'm pregnant. I plan to move in with my boyfriend, and I want to drop out of school... Please forgive me, Mom..."

"............"

Long pause, like eternity.

The mother's heart nearly stops. A suffocating feeling fills her chest, reaching up to her head.

Then she continues reading the last line.

"Just kidding, Mom. But this one is real: I didn't pass my Math course, I have to retake it."

Instantly, the mother feels an immense relief. Failing one course is truly a minor issue. If her child had said she failed outright, the mother would have scolded her endlessly. Now, she has no intention of reprimanding her daughter.

Life can be like that sometimes, right? We often feel overwhelmed by our circumstances when we view them from only one perspective. Yet if we look from a different angle, suddenly we’ll find gratitude.

A classic story that often serves as a lesson for us is the story of the Israelites. They missed out on what they should have received because they complained and were ungrateful.

Ah, but we're not like them... You might think.

Now, imagine if we were in their situation.

Comfortable? Far from it. It was hot, and there was no AC.

Tired? You tell me. Walking through the wilderness for 40 years!

Good food? The menu was the same every day: manna bread.

What about tomorrow? They said that one day they would reach the promised land inhabited by giants.

And so on...

If we compare their situation to ours, how would ours look?

What did the Israelites miss?

They failed to see from a different perspective:

Were they vulnerable and weak? No, the Lord demonstrated His power, parting the Red Sea and drowning their enemies.

Did they ever lack? No. When they were thirsty, the Lord provided water. When they were hungry, there was food.

Did they walk in uncertainty? No, because the Lord was with them in the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud.

Were the inhabitants of Canaan terrifying? Later on, we know that those tribes were terrified upon hearing about the coming of the Israelites and the mighty miracles of God in Egypt.

And finally, as Moses concluded, God carried them like a father carries his child.

Don't view your life as if you're crawling on the ground. Look at it from the perspective that you are being carried by the Lord. The view while crawling is different from the view when you're on God's shoulders.

So, if you're feeling tired and overwhelmed right now, try to see it from a different perspective. Look at it from God's point of view, where He gazes at you with overflowing love. Whatever you're facing now, no matter how dark the future may seem, pause for a moment. Feel God carrying you on His shoulders.

Everything will be safe and sound in Him.