Pinnacle Message Blog
SUNDAY ENCOUNTER — SERIES TWO
Sunday Encounter #17
When the Road Gets Hard — Trusting God When Obedience Leads Through Difficulty
Scripture Anchor: Exodus 14:10–16, Psalm 46:1–3, Isaiah 41:10, Romans 8:28
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” — Exodus 14:13
Sometimes we assume that if God is leading us, the road should become easier.
We expect open doors. Clear answers. Smooth transitions. Immediate confirmation.
But Scripture repeatedly shows us something different:
You can be exactly where God has led you and still encounter difficulty.
Israel discovered this truth shortly after leaving Egypt.
God had delivered them from slavery. Pharaoh had finally released them. They were walking toward the future God had promised.
Then suddenly, everything seemed to go wrong.
The Red Sea stood before them.
Pharaoh's army was approaching from behind.
Mountains surrounded them.
There appeared to be no escape.
Yet Israel had not wandered outside God's will.
God had led them there.
When Obedience Leads to an Impossible Place
Imagine what the Israelites must have felt.
They had witnessed extraordinary miracles in Egypt. They had watched God demonstrate His power again and again.
But now they stood before an obstacle they could not overcome.
Behind them was the enemy.
Before them was the sea.
And within them was fear.
They cried out to Moses:
“Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” — Exodus 14:11
Fear made them question the very deliverance they had once celebrated.
And fear can do the same to us.
When circumstances become difficult, we may begin asking:
Did I misunderstand God?
Did I make the wrong decision?
Has God forgotten me?
Why would He bring me this far only to leave me here?
But difficulty does not always mean you took the wrong road.
Sometimes difficulty becomes the stage upon which God reveals a dimension of His power you have never seen before.
The Sea Was Not the End
Moses answered the frightened people:
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” — Exodus 14:13
What looked like the end of their journey was actually the beginning of one of Scripture's greatest miracles.
The sea they believed would destroy them became the road God used to deliver them.
Think about that.
God turned the obstacle into the pathway.
Israel wanted the sea removed.
God opened a road through it.
Sometimes we pray, “Lord, take this away.”
And sometimes God answers, “I am going to take you through it.”
There are victories you will never experience unless you first encounter something bigger than your own strength.
Do Not Return to What God Delivered You From
When Israel saw Pharaoh approaching, their first instinct was to return to Egypt.
The familiar bondage suddenly seemed safer than the unfamiliar journey of faith.
This is one of fear's greatest temptations.
When moving forward becomes difficult, yesterday can start to look attractive again.
But God did not bring Israel out of Egypt so they could return when the journey became uncomfortable.
And God has not brought you through everything you have survived just so fear can convince you to retreat.
There are seasons when you must decide:
I would rather walk with God into the unknown than return to something He has already delivered me from.
God Is Present in the Difficult Place
Psalm 46:1 declares:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Notice that Scripture does not say God is only present after the trouble disappears.
He is present in trouble.
When the road gets hard, God has not stepped away.
When you cannot understand what He is doing, He has not lost control.
When your strength becomes small, His strength has not diminished.
Isaiah 41:10 reminds us:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee.”
The greatest promise in difficult seasons is not always immediate escape.
Sometimes the greatest promise is simply:
“I am with you.”
And if God is with you, difficulty does not have the final word.
Keep Moving Forward
After telling Israel to stand still and witness God's salvation, the Lord gave Moses another instruction:
“Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.” — Exodus 14:15
Forward?
There was a sea in front of them!
But God's command revealed something important:
Faith sometimes begins moving before the pathway becomes visible.
There are moments when you will not receive all the answers before taking the next step.
You may not know how God will provide.
You may not know when the situation will change.
You may not understand why the road became difficult.
But if God has told you to move forward, do not allow fear to turn you around.
Take the next faithful step.
Your Red Sea May Become Your Testimony
Romans 8:28 tells us:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”
The Israelites entered the Red Sea terrified.
They emerged on the other side with a testimony.
The obstacle that frightened them became evidence of God's faithfulness.
One day, you may look back at the season you are walking through now and realize:
That was where God strengthened me.
That was where God taught me to trust Him.
That was where I discovered He really was enough.
That was where the impossible opened before me.
Do not judge the conclusion of your story by the difficulty of your present chapter.
God is still writing.
A Word for You Today
Perhaps you are standing before your own Red Sea.
You have prayed.
You have trusted.
You have obeyed.
Yet instead of becoming easier, the road has become harder.
Do not immediately assume God has abandoned you.
The God who brought you this far knows exactly where you are.
You may see an obstacle.
God may see a pathway.
You may see an ending.
God may see a beginning.
You may see impossibility.
God may see the perfect opportunity to reveal His power.
The road may be difficult, but difficulty does not mean God is absent.
Keep trusting.
Keep praying.
Keep believing.
And when God says move—
go forward.
Sunday Encounter Reflection
Ask yourself today:
Have I interpreted difficulty as evidence that God is no longer leading me?
Then consider:
What would moving forward in faith look like for me this week?
Remember:
You do not need to know how the sea will open.
You only need to trust the God who stands beside you at the shore.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being with me not only on the easy roads, but also through the difficult places.
When circumstances make me afraid, remind me that You are still in control.
When I cannot see a way forward, help me remember that You can create a road where no road appears to exist.
Father, keep me from returning to places You have already delivered me from.
Give me courage when fear tells me to retreat.
Give me faith when circumstances tell me there is no hope.
Give me strength when the journey feels greater than I can carry.
Just as You opened the Red Sea before Israel, make a way according to Your perfect will.
And while I wait for the way to open, teach me to trust You completely.
I believe You are my refuge.
I believe You are my strength.
I believe You are with me.
And I believe that what looks impossible today can become tomorrow's testimony of Your faithfulness.
So when You say, “Go forward,” give me the courage to move.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
