What God’s Provision Really Looks Like
We all know what it feels like to be in need: humbled, broken, even broke. The trials of life show no favoritism. In one way or another, we will all experience our share of pain and heartache, and in those times of crisis we may turn to God, whether it’s something we normally do or not. So if we call out to God on our darkest of days, what can we expect? Many say prayer works, yet there’s an entire population of disheartened souls out there wondering why it didn’t work for them. Maybe their loved one still died, their partner still left, they continue to struggle in addiction or they lost the job anyhow. Whatever the crisis, it still exists. So what happened? Were they not doing it right? Does prayer only work sometimes or maybe only for certain people? Can God even hear our cries?
It’s not uncommon for people to grow discouraged when God doesn’t seem to answer their prayers, but is he really not listening? In the book of Numbers we have a record of God leading his people to the promised land. Throughout their journey God is with them and meets their every need. Of course that sounds great, yet we’re not talking five star lodgings and three squares. They were camping in the desert and dining on a daily dose of bread from heaven. The Israelites weren’t feeling his greatness and began to grumble.
The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” Numbers 11:4-6
I get it, my little dogs may be content with the same dry kibble every day, but I think after a while I would probably just lose my appetite too. I wonder though, would I be willing to exchange my freedom for better variety in my meal plan? That’s exactly what the Israelites were saying, that they were living better in the everyday hardships of slavery, than in this journey to freedom and if given the option they would have gladly walked back into bondage for a little fish and veggies.
In our humanity we often think like the Israelites, if the answer or provision doesn’t come in the way we expect, God has failed us and doesn’t care. The truth is God does care and even if we can’t see God’s greatness he is no less great and responds to our prayers in ways we often can’t comprehend. Like a devoted father he sees our real needs, when all we really want is for no one to suffer or be uncomfortable, and he will often use those tough situations to draw us to him and build our faith. He may not remove the thorns from our flesh, yet promises us the peace and courage to continue on each day. He knows the necessary provisions for every situation we might face and if we grow in trust, we can begin to see where he has provided for us through some of the most difficult times in our life, even when he may have seemed distant and unresponsive. His provision doesn’t always appear as a sudden miraculous event, although it can, yet more commonly as he brings order to our chaos and as his plans unfold, we can see the amazing touch of his mighty hand upon our life and circumstances. His word assures us that he indeed does hear us and will meet our needs, but always with his ultimate purpose and plan in mind.
Fear not, he says, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
