Why We Can Move Forward with God

Do you wonder why we can move forward with the Lord? What makes going forward needed, safe, and possible?

Here are several reasons we can move forward with God, based on Deuteronomy chapter 1.

Deuteronomy is an interesting book. It is the narrative of Moses, who retells the story of the Israelites from their exodus to their wandering in the desert. Moses speaks to another generation, a new one, who have not experienced the exodus or experienced it as children.

Chapter 1 depicts how God, through Moses, calls the Israelites to leave the desert and move forward toward the fulfillment of God’s promises.

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Move Forward with God – You Have Stayed Long Enough

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; (Deut. 1: 6-7, NIV)

You have stayed long enough. Where is this for you?

For me, this is self-reliance and self-will in my ongoing struggle. I forgot that I can’t change, relying on my strength, willpower, and decision-making. I neglected God’s grace and His strength. I stayed long enough in forgetting that I need to rely on Him moment by moment and that I can win my spiritual battles only because He is the stronger one, giving me the victory.

Perhaps for you, this is the valley of mourning and hopelessness, or keeping up the same sin or bad habit. Perhaps it is giving up hope in a certain area or situation, stopping praying, and stopping expecting God to intervene.

Horeb – Spiritual Desolation and Dryness

The mountain of Horeb, the place from which they need to go forward, has a deep spiritual meaning, too. The word “Horeb” means dryness, desolation, waste desert, spiritual desolation, or testing preceding divine encounter. It signifies divine revelation, covenant, provision, and testing, as well as a place of deep spiritual encounter and new beginning. The mountain of Horeb is used interchangeably with Sinai.

The etymology of the word is: dry up, lay waste, be in ruins.

God’s message is clear: “It is time to move forward, to leave the place of desolation and dryness, and move in the direction of God’s promises. It is time to stop mourning the past and have confidence for the future.”  

What We Need to Move Forward

We need two things to move forward: to want it and to trust the Lord with the way. This is God’s encouragement to the Israelites:

See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 1:21, NIV)

“But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. (Deut. 1:26, NIV)”

We see that the sin of the Israelites, the first time God told them to move, and also a warning for us, is their unwillingness to move forward and the lack of trust in the Lord.

Why We Can Move Forward with God

Here are four powerful reasons we can move forward with God.

• The Lord goes before us to prepare the way
• He fights for us
• The Lord carries us
• He shows us the way we should go

The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deut. 1:30-31, NIV)

The Lord “went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.” (Deut. 1:33, NIV)

Where do you need to move forward? What is the next step the Lord is showing you? Don’t let fear and mistrust stop you from following Him.

The only right direction is forward and upward, never going back.

Moving Forward with God through Our Pain and Suffering

Do you need help to move forward with God through pain and suffering? Then my book,“Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings,” is for you. Let me take you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing the losses and the precious blessings in each of them, and a way to heal and grow.

More Encouragement for You

If you need more resources, encouragement, and help on how to move forward with God, I highly recommend these books. Check them out.

Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk

The Night Is Normal by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole

Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert

Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst

Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley

Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge

All Things New by John Eldredge

Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer

Lean into Grace by Stacey Pardoe

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Your Turn

Where do you feel stuck in your spiritual growth? What prevents you from moving forward? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!

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