There’s at least two ways to look at life: Either it happens intentionally with a focused purpose or it happens randomly with each day uncovering fortunes and misfortunes, which simply fall as they may. Some might say nothing’s written in stone; there are no destinies. Others might say, there are no coincidences; only God-incidences. Then, still, somewhere between the two ideas are a dozen shades of gray. Like any personal philosophy held closely, our interpretation of life on this scale affects the way we live and value our experiences.

This week, as I read the captivating story of Moses from the book of Exodus, I couldn’t help but notice the fluid sequencing of the story from one meaningful moment to the next. Each of his experiences built neatly upon the previous, so that he existed in a somewhat perpetual condition of ‘becoming’. Woven throughout his story and the stories of all biblical characters, there seems to be this mark of divine order and unseen agenda.

Oftentimes, unbeknownst to the biblical character, we see God at work even in the ordinary obscurity of their lives – perfecting a plan and preparing them for the next chapter. Moses, for example, might’ve felt like his life was derailed in shambles as he fled from the Pharaoh to a desert land. The shame of his crime loomed large. The princely life he had known in the seat of royalty was no more. The once-famous son of an Egyptian princess became a foreigner in a strange land. He laid aside his opulent robes and picked up the staff of a shepherd working for his father-in-law. But, what might have felt like ‘shambles’ quickly became a stepping-stone. It was in the solitude of a simple desert moment with his ambling flock that God called Moses to greatness from within a burning bush. For forty years Moses led sheep in the dry wilderness of Midian…and all the while God was preparing him to lead the children of Israel.

How often are the dull ‘lulls’ of our lives glorious Midians? How often are our dry deserts places of ‘becoming’? If there is a holy plan for our lives, there is meaning in every moment. There is value in adversity and purpose in every season. May we live with passion in every ordinary moment of our lives trusting the guidance of our Shepherd, who sees our story and works through our circumstances.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

Liz Miller lives in Daphne with her husband Matt and son, Logan. She looks forward to responding to your thoughts, prayer requests and guest speaker invitations, please write to millerfam3@hotmail.com.