“Why do bad things happen to good people?”  Have you ever wondered about that question?  Have you ever asked that question?  If we are in a time in our life where it seems that bad things are happening to us, this question seems to filter to the forefront of our minds.  When my wife died close to 8 years ago, I was wondering that same question.  I never thought that my wife would die before I did.  I had no thoughts that she would die.  Yet it happened and I found myself being a single parent with 100% being responsible for taking care of my children and providing for their needs.

The Israelites found themselves in a similar situation.  They were slaves in Egypt with their taskmasters tightening down the screws (Book of Exodus in the Old Testament).  They didn’t realize that God had a plan for them when they were slaves in a foreign land,  and wondered if God was listening to their prayers.  God freed them from slavery and yet they wandered in the wilderness for 40+ years.

Fast forward 42 years, where the Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land that God had promised them 40 years before.  Two spies are spying out Jericho and come upon Rahab, a harlot that takes them in.  We pick up on what she said to them.  “We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God was preparing the way for the Israelites to go into the promised land.  He had people see the miracles He was performing and causing them to remember them for 40 years previously–drying up the Red Sea.  God caused them to hear about and remember the devastating war between Israel and Amorites that completely destroyed the Amorites.  The experiences God was working on caused the people’s hearts in the Promised land to  melt away.

Little did I know that God was working in the heart of another person who had lost her husband 13 years ago.  It was during an oil change at her auto repair shop (Airpark Auto Service) that we began to talk about our journeys and  God began to meld our hearts together.  That journey has continued as we got married 4+ years ago.

God is preparing our future journey even as you read this jlog, even as He is preparing your journey.  Our only response is to trust Him and His plan for our lives to allow His preparation to be realized.