The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Deuteronomy 1:6 NIV
Moses had led the people out of Egypt. Along the way, they were scared, ready to turn around and go back into slavery. God had parted the Red Sea, led the people through on dry ground, drowned the Egyptians, and landed them safely at Horeb, the mountain of God. They didn’t want to leave. It seemed comfortable. God had a bigger plan for them than this place, however, so He told them they had been there too long.
Sometimes God has to move us to mold us into whom we need to be or to get us to do what we need to do. That could be a move physically, emotionally, vocationally or spiritually.
Where are you at today? Have you been there too long?
- Have you been in your state of worry too long?
- Have you hovered in fear too long?
- Have you rested in the safety of your comfort zone for too long?
Would God say to you today: “You have been there too long!”?
Sometimes God even requires us to get off a mountain (our place of comfort) and move back into the valley, where we have no choice but to trust Him again. Whether it’s a time of rest or a time of unrest in our life, we can become habitual, even comfortable in our current situation to where we resist moving to better places God may have for us.
When Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountain of transfiguration (Matthew 17), Peter was ready to build three tents; one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. I don’t know where he planned to sleep, but he was ready to camp out for a while. Jesus took Peter back into the valley and into more ministry opportunities. At the time, Peter could only see what he could see.
- Is God ready to take you some place outside of your realm of comfort?
- Is He looking for you to move into a deeper commitment to Him?
- Is He preparing you for a better place, perhaps an even greater work?
- Have you been in the state you are in, the place you are in for far too long?
Why don’t you ask Him today?
Have stayed too long on one place for too long now its like a reproach people use to ask me how Am going but now no one does this month end will be losing where Am staying is like go around in a foreign land for over 21years please pray for me really confused and down but our GOD is bigger and stronger more than whatever will come against us only now have lost all hope prayed and prayed
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I’m tired of this life of unableness
im astounded with this post..Im 25 and Im thirsty and hungry for Gods next word from his own mouth..I need confirmation from God that its time to move..Ive gotten it..Where to? I dont know..Spritually yes physically I dont know but thats the big chunk that I need to know..I have no kids just finished undergrad and a 2 semesters of a Masters..Im a life coach looking for a job working with troubled youth specifally dealing with elementary to middle school emotional and behavioral disabilities..Im working on a NPO with a collegue from the ground up and seeking after God. I am humbled by this post..I hope to hear more from you Ron..Great Post..p.s. I just gave some of my background b/c its always good to know a little more about a person for prayer as well..Im being trained by the holy spirit to share the gospel I have my auntie for spiritual wisdom shes an elder…Other than that Im pretty much on my own with God…If you can give some scriptures to help me understand a physical move or not I would surely appreciate it..I will be in prayer for all of those in comment as well…Jamese
I got your comment and request for more follow up. I don't know if I have a lot more to share. Honestly, I find God gives tremendous individuality and freedom in making decisions regarding a physical move. I don't know if there's one passage I'd land on. You could look at the entirety of Scripture and see that God was always leading people to something new….Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Noah, Nehemiah, Esther, Jonah, Paul….Should I name more?Here are a few blog posts that may help:https://ronedmondson.com/2011/08/how-to-know-gods-will.htmlhttps://ronedmondson.com/2009/01/knowing-the-will-of-god.htmlhttps://ronedmondson.com/2012/02/5-questions-to-discern-gods-will.htmlhttps://ronedmondson.com/2011/08/7-ways-to-distinguish-gods-voice-from-the-circumstances-of-life.htmlhttps://ronedmondson.com/2009/01/5-ways-to-help-determine-if-your-plans-are-gods-plans.htmlhttps://ronedmondson.com/2012/02/5-steps-to-discern-if-god-is-changing-a-ministry-assignment.htmlhttps://ronedmondson.com/2011/08/10-scenarios-to-help-determine-if-its-time-to-quit.htmlHope some of this helps. God bless,Ron
I am so ready for God to say, "it's time to move", but He still has me here. More growth is needed and more dependence, and so I stay. After many months, the doors are starting to open to the next stage, but the last 18 months have been a tremendous lesson in patience!
Thanks for the reminder that when it is time, God will let me know.
I think it's easy for us to err on the side of comfort and career path when it comes to ministry. But in reality we have no idea how long a season of life for us may be intended by God. I reality, God desires for us to be used in certain ways at certain times and in the big Kingdom picture, it has nothing to do with timelines and career paths as ministers but everything to do with out willingness to run after His will no matter the time or the place.
It was for me to err on that side, but I also know I get very stale with myself, life and God when I sit still too long.
Thank you very much sir, I did exactly what God has ale me to do through his word sir, am waiting on him to do what he has promised to do. Am so happy to come across this post sir.. Join me in prayer for my next move cause when he ask me to move from where I used to get some money and at the same time to sow the money I had with in house of God, he used Isaiah43v18-19 talked to me about it.. I know he won’t fail me because he never wants me again to remain on particular mounting any more.. God bless you sir.. I hear to do..
I think every leader needs to ask themselves that question on a regular basis. I think their are always areas we can be moving forward in. Which is some times hard because of fear of change and failure. But our focus should be always moving in the direction God points us in. Great post
Thanks Dan. I agree.
I know where I am is too less than where God wants me to be but I’m deeply submerged and daily it seems like there’s no way out anymore… I don’t really know how I got myself I to this mess but I can’t help myself out anymore. I think I need to be “taken out”
Great post Ron. You captured exactly what I was feeling and thinking a couple of months ago when I felt God leading me to step away from my job I had been in for almost 14 years. After much talk and prayer about it, Julie and I decided to take that step and I turned in my resignation, not knowing exactly what was next, but knowing God was saying "You have been there too long!" Since then, there has been a great sense of peace and excitement about the next chapter which will be launching a new consulting business with Julie.
Jeff, I didn't know this, but I've been there. It was a long journey, but turned out to be the best thing for me. Praying for you in the months to come as you learn what God is up to. Keep me posted.