THE RIVER IS NOT YOUR DESTINATION
Today, I would like to take a little more of your time.
As you read this, be encouraged and find hope. Every year, one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles unfolds across the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem of Tanzania and Kenya: The Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, accompanied by zebras, gazelles and other animals, move across the ecosystem in search of fresh grazing and water as the seasons change. But between where they are and where they need to be lies danger. And that is where our lesson begins.
THE DANGERS OF THE RIVER AND THE MIGRATION
As the animals approach major river crossings, including the Mara River, another danger quietly waits beneath the water. That is the Nile crocodiles.They wait for an opportunity to attack animals attempting to cross. Among the migrating herds may be calves, older animals, exhausted animals due to long distance migration, pregnant mothers and others already weakened by the long journey. But interestingly, crossing the river does not mean every danger is over. On land, another set of predators awaits; lions, hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs etc. The animals have crossed one danger only to enter territory containing another. Yet they must continue. Why? Because the river was never their destination.The river was something they had to cross on their journey toward what they needed. And perhaps somebody reading this is standing before a river right now.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THEY CROSS?
Those that successfully navigate the journey gain access to the grazing and water they were seeking. But getting there doesn’t necessarily mean there will never be another challenge. And this is where this incredible natural phenomenon begins to speak to us about life. Sometimes we mistakenly believe: “If I can only overcome this problem, everything will finally become easy.” Not necessarily! Sometimes overcoming one challenge simply prepares you to handle the responsibilities and challenges of the next season. Every new level has its own environment. Every environment requires wisdom. Every season requires adaptation. And every migration requires growth.
LESSONS FROM THE GREAT MIGRATION
1. At Some Point in Life, You Will Have to Migrate
There comes a time when remaining where you are is no longer sustainable.To grow, become better, pursue purpose, develop yourself or enter another season of life, movement may become necessary. Sometimes that movement is physical, professional, relational, spiritual and mental. You cannot always remain where you have always been and expect to become everything God intends you to become. There are seasons when God says: MOVE!
2. Every Stage Has Its Own Challenges
The animals leave one challenge behind only to encounter another. Life can sometimes feel the same. You prayed for the opportunity. Then the opportunity came with pressure. You prayed for the promotion. Then the promotion came with responsibility. You prayed for growth. Then growth demanded discipline. You prayed for a new beginning. Then the new beginning required courage. Sometimes challenges do not mean you are in the wrong place. Sometimes challenges are simply part of the territory. And yes, some seasons can become overwhelming. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have failed. It may simply mean; you are migrating.
3. Sometimes You Have No Choice But to Move
These animals migrate because changing conditions compel them to search for grazing and water. There are moments in life when something similar happens. You may reach a season where remaining where you are is no longer producing life. And sometimes, painfully, you may discover that help is not coming from the people you expected to help you. There will come a time when you may receive no help from the very people you thought would help you. Like the wildebeest, you may have to look elsewhere. But before you move, please ASK GOD. Don’t migrate simply because you are frustrated. Don’t migrate simply because everybody else is moving. Don’t make permanent decisions from temporary emotions. Ask God to direct your path. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust in the Lord rather than leaning entirely upon our own understanding and to acknowledge Him so that He may direct our paths. You need God because sometimes between where you are and where you want to be lies a river you cannot yet see.
4. GOD IS WITH YOU IN THE DEEP WATERS
Isaiah 43:2 beautifully reminds us that when we pass through the waters, God is with us; when we pass through rivers, they will not overwhelm us; and when we walk through fire, we will not be consumed. Notice something? God didn’t say there would be no waters. He said, When you pass through them, I will be with you. Psalm 23, gives us a similar picture. David did not say there would never be a valley. He said that even while walking through the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil because God was with him. This is important. Sometimes our greatest evidence of God’s presence is not the absence of the river. It is discovering that somehow, by His grace, we made it through.
5. THERE MAY BE PREDATORS AROUND THE OPEN DOOR
This is something Christians must understand. Not everything surrounding an opportunity will necessarily be friendly. Sometimes there will be opposition even around the very door God has opened. This is why the child of God needs discernment. The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that our ultimate struggle is not merely against flesh and blood. Therefore, we should be careful not to label every difficult person an enemy. But we must equally understand that spiritual warfare is real and human motives can be complicated. You need wisdom to know who to trust, when to speak, when to remain silent, when to move, when to wait, when to fight and when to walk away. An open door does not eliminate the need for discernment, most times it increases it.
IN YOUR MIGRATION SEASON, EVEN THE UNEXPECTED CAN HIT YOU! During your migration season, don’t be surprised when opposition comes from unexpected places. Someone who barely knows you may suddenly have plenty to say about you. Someone who has never walked your journey may speak as though they understand your entire story. People who were never present during your sacrifices may suddenly become experts on your decisions. And sometimes, something that ordinarily wouldn’t bother you may hurt deeply because you are already carrying the weight of transition. This is why vulnerable seasons require extraordinary wisdom.
6. DON’T FORSAKE THE GATHERING OF THE SAINTS
Dont also forsake the assembly of the saints. The bible tells us that for a reason. When these animals migrate, those that isolate themselves gets attacked by predators!Predators hate togetherness. They become confuse and tactless when these animals are moving together. They go for those that have separated, isolated, exposed and vulnerable. Isolation can make vulnerability worse! During your migration season, don’t suddenly disconnect yourself from everybody. Don’t stop going to church, praying with believers, speaking to your Pastor/trusted spiritual leaders, allow mature believers to counsel you. Stay around people who genuinely love God and genuinely desire God’s best for you. The enemy would love to convince you, “Nobody understands you. Stay by yourself and don’t tell anybody.Leave everybody“. Be careful! Sometimes isolation begins as disappointment and eventually becomes vulnerability. There is joy in the house of the Lord!
7. LEARN FROM YOUR MIGRATION
Migration teaches. Experience teaches. Adversity reveals true identities. Jesus told His disciples: “Watch and pray!”. Your migration season can reveal things that comfort concealed. You discover your weaknesses, strengths, who genuinely loves you, discover relationships that were built primarily around convenience, you discover areas where you need healing, discover areas where you need discipline, discover habits that must change And surprisingly sometimes you discover opposition you never knew existed. Its in the worst and most vulnerable state of these animals that their predators also fully and plainly come out waiting calmly for them to come and get devoured. Your vulnerabilities may become clearer not only to you, but also to those who may want to exploit them. Therefore: WATCH AND PRAY. Don’t merely survive your migration. Learn from it. Because the person who crosses the river but learns nothing from the crossing may approach the next river with the same weaknesses.
8. RELY COMPLETELY ON GOD
This is where the child of God must rely upon God. Scripture repeatedly assures us that God will not abandon His children. It is during your MIGRATION PERIOD that you must learn to: RELY. PRAY. TRUST. LISTEN. DISCERN. GROW. And allow God to transform you into someone wiser, stronger, more disciplined and more discerning. Dear reader, don’t waste this stage of your life. It may be uncomfortable, confusing, demand more from you than you expected. But hidden inside this season may be lessons necessary for where God is taking you next. Don’t miss this season of Growth, Surrender, Discernment and Advancement. You may need everything you learn here for the next stage.
THE SUPPORT SYSTEM
The beauty of the story hasn’t ended yet. Its also in your migration period that God brings a defence and support system to the vulnerable and weak one. Same animals, same ecosystem, same habitat but a stronger one seeks to devour a weaker one. Truth is, no matter who you are one day you will be weak and vulnerable. When that day comes, when that migration day comes, one thing God does when you keep relying on him, when you kept coming to him, is He brings you a support system. In your Masai Mara migration, they will cover, teach, rebuke, direct and support you. They do that not to tear you down and tarnish your hard work but to protect all that you have worked for. They are not there to pamper you but lovingly teach you how to become strong, discerning n wise. They will make sure not to leave you isolated because that is what the enemy likes. To get you stigmatized, tagged and isolated.
Value such people.Because sometimes God answers our prayers not by immediately removing the river, but by sending people who help us navigate the journey.
CONCLUSION
The river is not your destination! It is part of the journey. Don’t build your identity around what you are currently going through. Don’t conclude your story while standing in the middle of the water. Don’t assume the presence of opposition means the absence of God. And don’t allow fear to make you return to a season that can no longer sustain where God is taking you. Pray, watch, discern, stay connected, learn, grow. And when God says move, MOVE. One day you may look behind you and realize that the river you thought would destroy you became the very place where you learned how deeply you could trust God.
The river was never your destination, It was your crossing.
Be encouraged. 😇
If you have been blessed by this sermon, kindly share to bless others as well. Shalom!