Walking Where God Moved: What Climbing Mount Sinai Taught Me About Suddenly
There are few places on earth that leave you speechless quite like the mountains of northwestern Saudi Arabia. The landscape feels almost otherworldly. Towering rock formations rise from the desert, and after hours of travelling through dry, rugged terrain, you suddenly come across an oasis where cool water flows and families gather to enjoy the shade. It's easy to imagine why people have been drawn to these places for thousands of years.
Our Discover Ministries tour had followed what many believe to be the route of the Exodus, retracing the footsteps of Moses through the wilderness. The previous day we had climbed Mount Sinai, and as I stood at the summit for the fifth time, I found myself reflecting on the privilege of returning to a place that has shaped so much of biblical history.
Every time I make this journey, I come with expectation. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Walking where Moses encountered God, where Elijah later stood, and where the Apostle Paul travelled reminds me that the God who moved throughout history is still at work today. I never expect the mountain itself to be magical, but I do believe that setting aside time to seek God, away from the distractions of everyday life, creates space for Him to speak to our hearts.
This visit proved to be no different.
As we descended the mountain, I finally regained enough phone reception to check my messages. Waiting for me was news that filled me with gratitude. Discover Ministries had just received its first $100,000 legacy gift—the largest single donation our ministry had ever received.
At first glance it seemed like one of those "suddenly" moments we often read about in Scripture. Yet the more I thought about it, the more I realised that the gift hadn't appeared out of nowhere. It was the fruit of years of faithful ministry, countless conversations, prayers, acts of generosity and relationships built over time.
It reminded me of something I've often said:
God takes a long time to do something quickly.
The Bible is full of moments that appear sudden. On the Day of Pentecost, "suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind." Yet before that dramatic moment, the disciples had spent more than three years walking with Jesus. Even after His resurrection, they were instructed to wait another ten days in prayer before the Holy Spirit was poured out. The miracle happened in an instant, but the preparation took years.
The same principle is often true in our own lives.
We pray for breakthrough, but God is often working long before we recognise it. Every act of obedience, every unseen sacrifice and every seed sown in faith becomes part of a much bigger story that only God can see in its entirety.
One of the things I love most about our ministry tours is watching people sow those kinds of seeds. Some invest financially so they can come. Others sacrifice time away from work or family. Still others simply choose to encourage someone they've never met before, pray for a fellow traveller or listen to a story over dinner. Those moments may seem small, but they have eternal significance.
I've watched people arrive carrying grief, loneliness or questions they've wrestled with for years. As we travel together, study God's Word and spend time in prayer, something begins to change. Friendships are formed, faith is strengthened and lives are refreshed. Those transformations rarely happen because of one spectacular event. More often, they come through a series of simple moments that God quietly uses to reshape a person's heart.
Perhaps that's why I continue returning to places like Mount Sinai. They remind me that God has always worked through ordinary people who chose to trust Him one step at a time. Moses didn't lead Israel overnight. Elijah didn't develop unwavering faith in a single day. Even the disciples spent years learning before they experienced their "suddenly."
If you're praying for God to move in your own life, don't become discouraged if the answer seems delayed. The waiting season is often the preparation season. God may be accomplishing far more beneath the surface than you can presently see.
Eventually, what has been growing quietly can become visible in a single moment. Others may call it luck or coincidence. The Bible simply calls it God's timing.
Our recent journey through Saudi Arabia was another reminder that these tours are about much more than visiting remarkable destinations. They are opportunities to step away from the routine of life, encounter God in fresh ways and walk through places that continue to speak of His faithfulness.
If you've ever considered joining us on one of these ministry journeys, we'd love to welcome you. You may come expecting to see biblical history, but you might also discover that God is writing a new chapter in your own story.