“We all crave connection. It’s not something we can escape in this life because of the way God knit us together in our mother’s womb. We are relational beings, and God gave us those desires. . . . Longing to be connected to people . . . can be a God-given dream. Shaming ourselves for wanting to fulfill a desire he put within us is harmful and leaves us restless.”- Meredith McDaniel
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring. 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 (NIV)
In Chapter 12 of In Want + Plenty, Meredith McDaniel underscores that as the Israelites prepared to walk on dry ground as the Red Sea waters parted, the pillar of cloud moved from in front of the people. Now the pillar of cloud stood between the people and the approaching Egyptian army.
Hence, the Exodus account evokes the image of a powerful and loving God who chose to stake His claim for His people – by moving the pillar of cloud. Only in the stillness, the pause after God split the sea, could the people relax. Then they recognized God’s presence and power that provided them freedom.
Similarly, we crave connection. Therefore, Meredith suggests that we uncover what relationships already exist around us. Next, deeply invest in those people. Furthermore, we need God’s help to discover the manna in our midst that we’ve been unable to see.
Consequently, Meredith encourages us to embrace stillness. However, in today’s world, all of us find sitting still and letting our minds rest problematic. As a result, we trade the wonder and beauty of our surroundings for the latest ESPN update or Facebook post.
In conclusion, the author adds these comments:
“We have an obvious problem, a compulsion that many of us have been swept up in for a decade now. And it’s not going to get better anytime soon unless we are intentional with our time and what we see. So what does it look like to stand at the edge of the sea, or at the forefront of our lives, overwhelmed by all that is around us,and choose to do as Moses says and just be still?”
Today’s question: When you crave connection, how do you approach God with your longing? Please share.
New addition to Crown Jewels: “The idolatry of work”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Clear choice – binding darkness or song of hope?”
