I’m notorious in our household for often uttering these three little words –God will provide.Notorious I say because it is often not the answer some in my family want to hear at the time. Believing this takes trust, and perhaps one of the hardest virtues – patience. Just ask my wife – she’ll roll her eyes and tell you. Financial problems? Job issues? Problem with other kids? Just problems in general? God will provide a solution.
It’s a firm belief I have. It’s firm because I’ve seen it happen, in unexplainable, yet perfect ways in my life, over and over. And every time, it’s happened when I’ve pretty much been at my limit, not knowing what the answer is, not knowing if there even is an answer. It’s in these times where the only solution I had was to turn to God in trust and prayer, full of hope that He would provide a solution, whatever that may be.
Every single time, He has provided a solution. It may not have been a quick fix, it may have taken hard work, and it may not have been the solution I had in my mind, but in the end, He has provided solutions that I either did not conceive or perhaps just disregarded as not right or realistic. And He has always provided more than I even envisioned.
He provided what was needed, with some scraps to spare. It takes a devoted trust and a realization that we cannot do it on our own, that Jesus is there, every step of the way, and will provide.
I’ve experienced this in physical, tangible ways in my life, and I’ve experienced it spiritually in my soul. The latter is the most important, because at times in our lives, the pains and trials won’t be relieved in the physical sense. And we will also continue to try and separate ourselves from Him through sin and simply being human.
Our time on this earth will end at some point. But through Jesus – God has provided an everlasting, undying gift that will feed and nurture and save our souls in ways that we never could on our own. And He will provide the means with which we can live eternally, forever with Him, in spite of our brokenness and problems that we bring upon ourselves, or that simply afflict us with no rhyme or reason, and that we cannot resolve on our own.
God has provided in the past. God will provide in the future. He provides now.
I’ve got to constantly remind myself of this. The reason I repeat this so much in our household is not only to calm and encourage my family, but perhaps more so to simply remind myself. I know it’s true. I’ve seen it and experienced it. But like our Jewish brethren from ages past, who saw amazing things only to have to be reminded by God over and over, I am often the same way. God is constantly reminding me that He will provide. As I am sure He does with all of you.
Sometimes we just get in our own way. Often life gets in the way and blinds us. And when we do, when we can’t see the answer, when we think there is no solution – simply trust, and I mean really hope and trust in the fact that God provides.
And it is in this one fact that I find calm and solace in, that brings me peace. God has and does and always will provide.
