I’ve never been a fan of uncertainty or waiting on the Lord. I especially struggled with this concept when I was graduating from the University of Florida and rolling into the abyss of adulthood. The fear of the unknown made me feel emotionally out of control.
My post-grad dream was to host a TV show interviewing celebrity guests. For a year, I applied to various places in the television industry, with no success. I soon found myself in a season of deep depression.
But then I saw an opportunity to start a podcast in my hometown. I’d never considered podcasting before, yet I felt God leading me in this direction. My obedience to step through this open door became the threshold to seeing God show up in significant ways.
Long story short, a month after I started my podcast, I met an NFL Hall of Famer who graciously offered to be my first guest. Shortly after, he began connecting me with some of his celebrity buddies who also came on the show. In one year, I have interviewed over 20 celebrities. It’s been humbling to watch God circumvent my plans to enable His. He led me to this opportunity, and He is now behind me, guarding my dream.
We hear all the time that God is in control and His plan for each of us is perfect. I knew that with my head, but now I know it with my whole being. I have personally witnessed God moving for me—before me, behind me, and between me—just as He has always promised He would.
These unchanging promises of God are highlighted throughout the Bible, but especially in Exodus 13–14. In these chapters, we see that hardhearted Pharaoh nearly had to be plagued to death before he would allow Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to worship God in the wilderness. As the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, “the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night” (Exodus 13:21 NIV).
Later in Exodus 14, Pharaoh changed his mind and pursued the Israelites through the wilderness. At the sight of Pharaoh and his chariots closing in on them, the terrified people asked Moses: “Why did God lead us out of slavery only to be chased down to the sea?”
Listen to how God instructed Moses to respond. He answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13–14).
The Lord then commanded Moses to put his staff in the water, and God split the Red Sea so His people could pass through on dry ground. After they had crossed over, the water came crashing down on the Egyptian army, and they drowned.
But notice the lineup change right before the waters parted. “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:19–20).
The frontal force that had led the Israelites out of Egypt and away from the enemy was the same protection that moved behind them to stand between them and the enemy. I have often missed this truth.
Sometimes, like the Israelites, I wonder, “God, where are You leading me?” But this story and mine remind me that God is ever faithful. He goes before me and behind me, always standing between my enemy and me. And between me and unfulfilled dreams.
God is before, behind, and between you and whatever you are facing too. He is fighting your battles, so just be still and don’t be afraid. He knows what He is doing, and His timing is always perfect. Trust Him. If He has placed a dream in you, He will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
