Do You Trust God to Provide?
I want to start by saying sorry as if appeared I jumped ship.
I know it has been way too long since I posted anything. And maybe I did jump, hesitant to write anything more about my story. Feeling a bit unworthy to encourage when I myself still need it so much ~ discouraged that after almost 3 years, I am not on the other side of my circumstances. I mean really — there are reality shows that seem to have all their troubles worked out in less than a “season” and here I am with my season going on and on like a never ending cycle of reruns. How does that encourage anyone?
Well, I am back, still a bit wet from swimming off into who knows what, away from my Wilderness experience and from the willingness to share about Jehovah Jireh ~the Lord will provide. And I apologize for that, too. Because I believe Him to be who He says He is, and He has continued daily to show Himself strong on my behalf and I should be willing to share His faithfulness.
The Wilderness season, for anyone, is a time for many lessons and they may be different for each of us. The circumstances, outlook or description (Wilderness, desert, pit etc) is real to you. The length of time of our stay varies from individual to individual. I hope this doesn’t sound too discouraging, but until we step into eternity, into the presence of our Holy God and Creator, we will always be in some way travelers, still foreigners in this land because this is not our home.
But there is good news. We are not alone. And I am not referring to others around us. Because I know there are some who may be surrounded by many, but still feel alone. I am referring to a God who wants to fellowship with us, to provide for us, one who wants to be our God and our Everything.
Can I bring us back to a time in history to a time when we hear about a group of people who were brought into the wilderness, which was the beginning of their freedom from slavery? In the book of Exodus you read about Moses who was called to lead the Israelites – God’s chosen people – out of Egypt. The journey was to take them to the Promise Land, normally less than a 2 week journey. Instead it ended up being 40 years.
If you are familiar with the story, do you remember why the journey lasted so long? Well the Israelites were complainers, grumblers, and doubters to name a few. Gee whiz, did I just describe me on any given day!
God continually and faithfully showed up and made known His mighty ability to provide for them as they made this journey. He reminded them He wanted to be in a relationship with them, to fellowship with them. When they cried out for water, there it was. When they cried out for food, there it was. But one lesson continues to resonate with me and has been my greatest desire and theme of my journey.
When the Israelites cried out for food, God sent them manna. It rained down from Heaven each and every new morning and they collected it into baskets ~ always enough for each person for needs of that day. It was described as a wafer that tasted like honey. It could be pounded out and made into cakes and it was sufficient to meet their daily physical needs. But there was a catch. It was meant for that day and that day only. It was not meant to be taken into the next day.
The Israelites were tested and they failed as they doubted God. Those that carried it into the next day were in for a sad and disgusting surprise. It was full of maggots and began to smell. God wanted to show them He would be faithful to provide each and every day with fresh and new manna. But they didn’t believe Him.
We have the same God, who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He calls us to do the same as the Israelites. He longs for us to seek Him each and every day, to allow Him to give us our daily bread, His grace for our circumstances and how the day will unfold.
This has been a test for me over and over. As I wait for my financial needs to be met or strength and wisdom to handle a visit from the children’s father. Or my response to someone who questions my waiting.
I struggle with the waiting on Him for His Manna, His Grace, and His timing, wanting what I have gathered or been given to last for days and even for the weeks that loom ahead. He wants me to trust Him for today and not take the grace He has given into tomorrow…Because I should want to go and gather EACH and every new day. Seeking and drawing from HIM.
Are you seeking, waiting, and gathering?
Be warned, this is not easy. This is complete surrender. The dying to everything you think you should be doing, or have been told to do by others, and to replace it with full confidence and trust in Him…in His promises. For me the lesson was did I, or do I still trust God to provide? My answer is yes. Do I mess up at times? The answer is yes. When “new” bad news arrives, I fret about the tomorrows, but I have not received my manna (grace) for those days. I’ve been given just for TODAY.
As you claim the promises of He-who will provide, remember it is He who will give you the strength and ability to wait and trust. I still have days that I cry out, “I believe Lord, help my unbelief.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to hang out in the wilderness due to my unbelief any longer than I have to and the complaining and grumbling doesn’t help anyone either.
So my closing words of encouragement to you are… “By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me.” Psalms 42:8 ESV May you come to believe that yourself.
You may be one that has already seen, experienced and have embraced the daily receiving and is accepting the wait that you have ahead of you. Oh what a glorious and peaceful feeling that must be. But for any that still struggle with and are questioning the wait time, I hope to encourage you with my next post. I promise to not jump ship again :o)
Here is another wonderful music video by Lauren Daigle
Amie says
This is wonderful. Just what I needed to hear. It’s so easy to just stop trusting God has our best in mind each and every day. I get so caught up in the busyness of life and forget what Gods word says.
Allison says
What an excellent post! I love how you brought up the manna! Jesus is the bread of life and we do need to seek His Face every day for our daily grace! I love how God is sustaining you and growing you as you continue to wait on Him! You are such an encouragement to me! So different from the world! Thanks so much for writing!
Jill Higey says
Amy,
Thank you for sharing! I have been hanging out in Matthew 6 over and over and over for the past week, and I also keep being reminded that EACH NEW DAY I must Seek Him Again for the grace that I will need in that day. I love it when He reminds me that these are good, worthy lessons to learn and live out (like He did with this post!). I’m so thankful for you and for your friendship!
Amy Dobler says
Thank you Jill for that encouragement!
Melissa says
Such a great reminder that really encouraged me. Thx, precious friend! Grace and peace to you.
Heather says
Amy I love this thanks for sharing
Deanna Lynam says
Oh Amy, you wrote that timely testimony and you have encouraged me! Thank you dear sweet friend! I’m so glad that our Heavenly Father brought us along the path of meeting one another many years ago. He is so good, faithful, kind and loving. May the LORD continue to bless you with His perfect peace day by day as you lean hard on Him. I love you!