I came across my notes from a book I read several years ago, “Red Sea Rules” by Robert Morgan. We all need to recognize this truth: God is and always will be in control of the situation. And His purposes are good. We might question this from time to time, but it is true!
If you’re ever in a place where you wonder,
“How in the world did I get HERE? And how is God going to get me out of THIS? (Or is He?)”
Here are the ten Red Sea Rules for moving from fear to faith outlined in Robert Morgan’s book:
Rule 1 – Realize that God means you to be where you are.
It’s comforting in a strange sort of way to know the Lord MEANS for us to be right here, right now. So we should probably not squirm and try to get away. This rule is usually the toughest to accept, but once that’s done, it’s easier to move on to the rest.
We face issues in our lives by God’s appointment and for His purpose. We may not know God’s purpose in the situation, but we can rest assured that God has not abandoned us. He has some purpose for us. That realization shapes our attitudes as we face trials.
Rule 2 – Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.
Scripture is full of situations where God received glory even in the midst of hard times—the greatest being Calvary itself. So why should our lives be the exception?
When in trying circumstances, the first question should not be, “How can I get out of this mess?” but rather, “How can I honor God in this situation?” Jesus is our example—He did not try to escape His death on the cross.
Rule 3 – Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Take a hard look at your problem. Don’t pretend it’s not there. Faith means evaluating your problem carefully and thinking about what God wants you to do.
Don’t confuse faith with denial. But don’t be so consumed by problems that you leave God out. God wants us to face problems realistically, but also to look to Him, remembering He promised to guide us through.
“The same God who led you in will lead you out.”
Rule 4 – Pray!
Prayer is how we express our need for God. It’s our way of telling Him how we feel, what we need, how much we need Him, and to thank Him for what He’s provided.
Morgan notes, “There’s something about praying with another person that intensifies prayer and sends it to heaven with greater velocity.”
It’s good to pray together. God wants us to share our needs and present our requests jointly.
Rule 5 – Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
God’s thoughts aren’t our thoughts; His ways are not ours. Our timetable seldom matches His.
I’m most content when I let Him be God. Staying calm doesn’t come easily; worry rushes in before we even think. But we must practice giving God time to work.
Rule 6 – When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
He’ll show the next step when it’s time. When we drive at night, headlights only show a little way ahead.
Don’t waste time regretting the past or dreaming about the future. Do what you can now, and leave the results to God.
Rule 7 – Envision God’s enveloping presence.
Talk about comforting! Living fully aware that God is with us RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW changes everything.
We don’t have to imagine or pretend—He really is with us! Cultivate God’s presence and learn to rest in His embrace.
Rule 8 – Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
God knows people and resources we don’t know, has perfect timing, and sees the long-term impact. That’s why He often works in His own ways.
Rule 9 – View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Every faith success builds strength. Every failure can too. God cares about more than our happiness—He is preparing us to live with Him for eternity.
Enjoy God’s good creation, but also recognize God’s greater plan for us beyond earthly happiness.
Rule 10 – Don’t forget to praise Him.
Our relationship with God doesn’t end when circumstances get hard. Things happen to show who God is and how He works with us.
God is good all the time. Whether our circumstances end or not, we always have Him.
Develop a perspective of PRAISE! Praise expresses delight in who God is and what He has done. We can praise Him for guiding and stretching us and encouraging patience.
God delights in bringing great victory out of certain defeat. At times, He makes the odds overwhelmingly against His people so that when victory comes, there can be only one explanation: God did it!
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