being in such a precarious position lately has really made me think about God's provision and what it means to be provided for. job opportunities come and go lately. some linger for what seems like ages with no news. through it all, it's easy to get discouraged and even feel like you've got absolutely nothing to offer anyone. and, if it weren't for my wonderful wife, i'd probably set up camp there. i'd say our money is wearing thin, but i think we skipped that and went straight to being threadbare. between alissa's checks and cashing in a life insurance policy, we'll be able to make it another month or so. each time we get close to zero some small thing happens to bring us back up into temporary safety. in this way, God provides for us.
when the Israelites were in the desert, God gave them manna from heaven; but they were warned only to collect what they needed for the day, otherwise it would spoil and produce maggots. In the same spirit, Jesus taught us all how to pray by saying "...give us this day our daily bread..." [matthew 6]. on and on, God tries to get His people to rely on Him one day at a time; and this is something He has been teaching me since i met Him; so, even though it's hard to sit and wait, that is what i do, knowing that each day His provision will come and one day could even be a job.
in a similar way, when the Israelites were taken into exile, they wondered when the trials they were facing would end. so, God sent Jeremiah a message to be delivered to the exiles. this is what He said:
[4]"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5]Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. [6]Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. [7]But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. [8]For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, [9]for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD.
[10]"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. [11]For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. [12]Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. [13]You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. [14]I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
this passage has been very encouraging to me lately for many reasons. it is clear that God does not pretend that their troubles will be over soon, He tells them to build houses and raise families in the places they have been taken to [v. 5-6]. furthermore, He tells them to not despise the place or the people but instead to "seek their welfare" because their futures were tied together [v.7]. i can only imagine the false prophets in verses 8 and 9 were telling them it would all be over soon. God then goes on to say that He knows when the end will come, He can be trusted and will rescue every one of His people. for me, these verses encourage me to not only hang on, but to get comfortable with my surroundings; and to not despise my circumstances but rather to find the good in them.
throughout these verses i hear God clearly saying, "you knew there would be trials, you knew there would be hard times, don't fight them. I have appointed a specific time for this to be over and I will bring you back from these circumstances. trust me, andy, because I know the plans I have for you and your wife; and they are good. though I am always with you, you will discover Me again. I will not let you give up, I will be found by you! though you feel broken, I will gather you up and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."
a picture of a loving God who provides for His people.
::
andy. you have a really good perspective on this stuff. I am proud to have you as a husband.
ReplyDeletep.s. remember when i used to publicly make fun of you because only john, your mom, and i read your blogs? well, now it's only me. you're the only one who reads mine too, though. maybe we should just write each other letters.