Wednesday, October 1, 2014

By: Rebecca Landry

God Is Our Provider!

Matthew 6: 31-32 Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in Heaven knows you need them.

Recently my husband got a better job. I felt a weight lifted and thought the storms were about to clear up. I praised God for this opportunity and thanked Him for providing for us.

THEN ... the day before he got back from his first week at work, two things occurred.  First, our air conditioner went out, and although fixed temporarily, we discovered that the unit is on its last leg.  Second, our hot water heater exploded and flooded the addition on our house.

I'm going to be honest, I was NOT praising God at that moment. Instead, I wanted to fall to my knees and yell "WHYYYYYY!?" Why was this happening JUST when we were getting back on our feet? I wasn't feeling blessed or thankful --- I felt stressed and worried.  

 My husband, on the other hand, rationalized that it was better those things happened now rather than a month before. True, but I would have preferred if they had not happened at all!  But then, the same day we replaced the water heater, he got a call offering him a few extra days of overtime ... enough to cover our recent disasters.

 I was reminded of the scriptures in Matthew 6 that start with "Look at the birds in the air. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds." Yes ... I'm worth more than a silly bird! I'm His precious child, and He will always take care of me!

 Though this last year has been trying, God has provided for us in every situation. And yet, I STILL have to be reminded on an almost daily basis to TRUST in Him.  I challenge you from personal experience to stop yourself when you start to worry AND list all the ways that God has provided in the past.  Then, simply trust Him to provide for you in the present.

 Dear Lord, I thank You for providing for me always, in ways I recognize and in ways I don't. Help me to trust in You in EVERY situation and forgive me for worrying.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.

 Reflection: Are you continuing to worry when God's proven time and time again to be your provider?