Sometimes things will appear worse before they get better. For a number of years, my summer job was doing water garden construction. I found myself often exhorting a customer that they will experience a mixed set of emotions as I began and completed the build. I would carefully explain that before they get their aquatic paradise, they will experience their grass ripped up, dirt everywhere, and massive piles of rocks scattered throughout the land. Then I continued, about seeing a hole with rocks placed in peculiar spots. There would be rocks in their unfilled pond in places that they wouldn’t imagine. The customer could take comfort to all these forecasts until it was at the stage just before the waterfall would run. As I would sense their disappointment and frustration come to a head, wondering why they spent thousands with this clown to destroy their dream and vision for aquatic bliss, I would sometimes boldly proclaim that they will be soon be looking at the water and not the rock. The waterfall in a water garden is the signature of a pond installer, but the key is how the water will flow and how that looks and not how the dry rocks look to the eye. If their faith were not restored, I would explain that I would build it a gain for them if they didn’t like it, but let’s run it first. So often as Christians we start to really grow with the Lord or we get to a point were we press in deeper to follow Him and then it seems to appear that our lives are falling apart and there is now a big mess. This is what happened to the Hebrews as they had experienced hope from the Lord and stepped out to follow Him. It seemed to get worse.
Exodus 5:4-7 “And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
Take comfort Christian, sometimes things get a little messy before it gets pretty.