I shook my head no as she voiced the suggestion, “That sounds lovely, but I don’t think that’s in my budget.” My writing mentor paused and smiled sweetly at me, but she did not budge in her bold suggestion. “I think you should attend this writing conference. I know it’s a huge investment, but you should pray about the opportunity and ask God to open up the door. God might just surprise you and provide exactly what you need.”
Knowing this woman was wise, I decided to heed her advice even though I doubted God would send me the exorbitant amount of money required to pay for the conference fee plus travel expenses. Out of obedience, I spent several weeks praying about the possibility of participating in an experience that I had no idea how I would finance. I basically asked God to send me the funds if He truly wanted me to step out in faith and go.
Two weeks later, my paycheck stub reflected a larger amount than normal. When I pointed out the mistake to my employer, I was informed that a bonus was added to celebrate my ten years of service. Then, the following week, I was asked to tutor a new Spanish-speaking student who needed some help with his writing. My supervisor handed me the pay scale and let me know how many weeks the commitment required. After she left, I sat down to total up exactly how much money would end up in my bank account. When I totaled the bonus plus the tutoring funds, I realized the sum was exactly what my writing mentor said I would need to attend the writing conference. God had providentially supplied what I could not have secured on my own.
Our lack of faith does not deter our faithful God. The children of Israel failed to remember how God had delivered them from Egypt just one month before. Now they murmured against Moses in the wilderness.
Though our feelings fluctuate and our circumstances change, our Lord remains constant and unchanging. He will always exist as Yahweh, the sovereign authority reigning over all creation. Our God always fights for those who belong to Him and fulfills His promises to His beloved children.
Like the children of Israel, we can trust that if God leads us into a wilderness, He will provide exactly what we lack. Our daily sustenance will be abundantly supplied by His grace. If we fully depend on the Lord, He will surprise us and help us see how His storehouse of resources stays inexhaustible.
God will often allow us to walk into a barren season in order to test our faith and strengthen our resolve to entrust everything that concerns us into His care. Yes, God rained the bread of angels from heaven, but He asked the children to step forward and gather the daily provision.
Every morning, you have to decide if you will trust God to perfectly provide what you need to thrive. What He supplies often reveals His glory as manna rains down from the most surprisingly unexpected places. Rejoice that His grace will go before you, and you get to gather up His goodness.
