Egypt

But forget all that – it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
​​Isaiah 43:18-19

Many times in the adventurous life that comes with being a follower of Jesus, there are moments when the call to leave is undeniable. It’s a prompting of God saying, “It’s time to come out.” While it’s easy to glamorize freedom and newness, the journey out of Egypt is not unchallenging. In fact, it is rather costly. It requires everything from you and is a full disentangling from all you once knew. It’s a complete dismantling of your old way of thinking, doing and being. Although there is rarely immediate peace, the separation is necessary.

The reality is that while the Egypt we leave behind may be a physical location, it can also look like stepping out of the mental, emotional and spiritual places where you’ve been bound. It’s release from places that were once safe. It’s about moving from a land of oppression to a land of promise. Perhaps our Egypt is a season of life or a way of thinking that we’ve been stuck in for too long. Maybe it’s toxic patterns that keep draining us. Maybe it’s a career that no longer aligns with our convictions or purpose. Maybe it’s the fear that we’ll never be enough or that we’re behind. Whatever your Egypt is, the Lord may be calling you to come out.

Despite having clarity on the call out of Egypt and the timing, the Israelites didn’t leave with ease. They had to navigate plagues, resistance and a wilderness that tested their faith at every turn. There was no clear map to the Promised Land. There were even moments when they wanted to go back, when the comfort of the familiar seemed like the safer choice. There were days when the wilderness felt like too much. However, with each trial, they were transformed. The wilderness process was part of the promise. It was the place where God would reveal His provision, protection, faithfulness and glory.

Just like the Israelites did, we will find that God doesn’t just lead us out. He leads us through. There may be wandering days that lead us to feel like we’ve made a terrible mistake, but we must remember that obedience and the promise of flourishing is greater than the pain of the transition. The journey requires an understanding that the process of coming out is just as important as the promise of the destination. We may not know where we’re going, why we’re going there or how we’ll get there, but if we trust the process and let God walk us through the wilderness, we will find ourselves becoming more and more like what we were always meant to be.

Making the decision to leave Egypt is taking a step into the unknown. It’s terrifying, exhilarating and everything in between. There is grief over the last season. The separation from a comfort that was killing you is unbelievably painful, but God has not brought you this far to leave you here. The promise on the other side of your obedience is greater than any comfort Egypt could ever provide.

Don’t let fear keep you in chains. Don’t let complacency keep you bound. It’s time to walk out to step into the new chapter that God is promising you. The wilderness is only a season, and though it may stretch longer than you anticipated, it’s not your final destination. You were meant for more than Egypt. It’s time to MAKE ROOM for the life God is calling you to. No matter how long you’re in the wilderness or what’s on the other side, He’s there, and He is the treasure. He is the prize.