This devotional was shared with me today and I wanted to share it with you. By: Marybeth Whalen

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you
live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts.” Hosea
12:9 (NIV)

Many times in the Bible we read about God giving us direction, pushing
us forward and providing us with a future. But have you ever felt like
He has taken you backwards instead? Have you ever wondered why?

In today’s verse we read about Him telling the Israelites that they
were going to take a few steps backwards. They had gotten out of Egypt,
moved on with their lives, stepped towards a future, but forgot their
God in the process. He determined that the best thing He could do was to
take them back to the days they lived in tents, back to the time they
celebrated feasts and remembered His goodnes s. A time, the Bible notes,
they were filled with indescribable joy in spite of their surroundings.

God has had to take me back many times, I am sad to say. I get in
forward motion, so focused on what lies ahead, that I forget what He has
done for me in the past. Living in fast forward gives me little time to
rewind, to replay what He has done on my behalf, to rejoice over His
sovereignty. Sometimes He has to take me back—not because He is
punishing me, but because He knows how spiritually forgetful I can be.
He simplifies my life for me, weeding out the distractions so I can
refocus on Him. He puts me in “tents” again so I can remember where I
started.

Maybe today you are feeling like you are in “tents” again financially
or professionally. Maybe your marriage seems to be in “tents” again.
Maybe you are going through something with a child that feels reversed
when what you really want is to move ahead. Let God take you back, and
trust that forward motion doesn’ t always mean growth.

Sometimes going backwards is what He knows is best for you. Trust the
direction He is taking you. Settle into those “tents” and look for Him
to dwell among you as He did with the Israelites. Instead of grumbling
and complaining about where He has you, choose to feel His nearness and
soak in His love. Sometimes He puts us in “tents” again because there is
something He once taught us that we need to relearn. What might that be
for you?

Dear Lord, I don’t like going backwards. I want to move ahead but I
know that isn’t always what’s best for me. I trust the direction You are
taking me, even if it means going back. I want to draw closer to You and
I trust Your guidance. Please reveal Yourself to me in “tents” again. In
Jesus’ Name, Amen.