For 430 years the people of Israel had been slaves in Egypt until God heard their cries and used Moses to lead them out of captivity. It didn’t take long, however, before they threw their hands up in despair, forgetting God’s faithfulness and blaming Moses for leading them into the desert to starve to death. 

Perhaps our country’s current economic state has you feeling as if you’ve been led to a desert place. Housing costs have skyrocketed, interest rates are climbing, fuel and groceries have reached levels many of us can’t afford. Certainly our complaints are justified, aren’t they?!

Though history has repeatedly shown us that God sometimes allows his children to wander in the “desert of difficulties” to test their trust in him, it’s easy to fail that test.  

Over eight hundred years after being freed from Egypt, the Israelites were again conquered—this time by the Babylonians. Once again, they had forgotten God’s faithfulness, but thankfully the prophet Daniel pleaded on their behalf: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments. … Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act!” (Daniel 9:4,18,19).

Lord, help us like Daniel. Turn our despair into prayer!