The Wilderness Between Waterstations - Running The Race.

Good morning church and welcome to a unique moment. Today, we're not just speaking to everyday life—we're speaking to the road, the trail, and the race.

Let me ask you something: Have you ever run past a water station and immediately regretted it?

You’re feeling strong, a bit proud even, thinking “I’m good. I’ll take water at the next one.”

But then suddenly… The sun beats down, the road stretches out, your legs get tight, the silence kicks in, and your body starts reminding you—you needed that water. That last water station starts to feel like a distant memory from another life. I remember a runner once told me (true story or you can personalise it): “The worst part of a race isn’t the start or the finish—it’s the long, lonely silence in the middle, when all the cheering has faded and your only sound is your breath and your thoughts.”

That stretch—between the comfort, between the noise, between the water stations—that’s what I want to talk about today. Because life has wildernesses too. And spiritually, some of you here might feel like you’re in that same long stretch.

You've passed the last miracle. You remember when God showed up. But now it’s quiet. Now it’s dry. And your soul is asking: “Where is God?” Alright, let’s take a moment and go to the Word of God together—

Exodus 17:1–7. It’s a powerful moment in Israel’s journey that many of us can relate to more than we might realise. At this point in their story, the Israelites had just experienced some of the most incredible miracles in history. I mean, they walked out of Egypt after years of slavery—that wasn’t just a coincidence, which was God’s hand. That was a miracle! And then, not long after, they stood at the edge of the Red Sea, completely trapped. Pharaoh’s army behind them, water in front of them… and what does God do? He parts the sea! Another miracle. They walk through on dry ground. Come on, that’s next-level supernatural. And as if that wasn’t enough, God gives them divine navigation: a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Can you imagine that? Literally following God’s visible presence every single day. There was no doubt He was with them.

But then… the wilderness.

They arrive at a place called Rephidim, and suddenly the situation changes. The Bible says there was no water for the people to drink. No water in the middle of a dry land. No refreshment. No visible solution. And just like that, the faith they had from Egypt and the Red Sea starts to fade. The confidence they had when they were following the cloud, and the fire now feels distant. So, they begin to complain. They argue with Moses. And then they ask one of the most honest, raw questions in Scripture:

“Is the Lord among us or not?”

Doesn’t that just hit home?

Because we’ve all been there, haven’t we? You’ve had your own moments of breakthrough. Times where God clearly showed up in your life—He provided when you didn’t know how, He opened a door no one else could, He gave you peace when things were falling apart. You’ve had your Red Sea moments. You’ve felt His presence, no question about it.

But now… things are dry. Silent. You’re in a stretch of life that feels like the wilderness. You’re showing up, you’re still running the race, but your soul is parched. There’s no “water” for your spirit. You’re not hearing from God like you used to. You’re not feeling the encouragement. The miracles seem like they belong to another season. And quietly, deep down in your heart, you find yourself asking the same thing Israel asked:

“God… are You still here? Did You leave me in this stretch?”

If that’s you, you're not alone. God put that question in the Bible for a reason—because He knew you’d be asking it too. And today, He wants to meet you right there. Not just at the finish line. Not only at the water stations. Right in the middle of the wilderness.

This brings me to my first point today: Let’s talk about something that’s both comforting and challenging to grasp: God is present in the wilderness. You know, one of the most beautiful and reassuring passages in Scripture comes from Psalm 139:7–10. It says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”

That’s powerful. What David is saying here is this: there’s nowhere you can go where God won’t meet you. No height, no depth, no dark place, no silent stretch is outside of His reach.