Having a change in our financial situation can really bring us
face to face with how we view our wealth and our ability to provide for
ourselves and our families. Many people have had to deal with this reality in those
seasons when their economics change and they find their financial resources
either greatly restricted or maybe even greatly enhanced. For those who
experience a growth in their resources they quickly can find themselves able to
acquire things that they otherwise would have never considered. For those who
have had their finances reduced they can find that what they once did without
further thought, they now are unable to do at all. And for those whose income
totally disappears they are not only faced with setting aside optional things,
but even considering how to meet that which is most necessary. This is the
general condition of man apart from God.
But it is also the common condition of those who know God
and seek to follow Him. The reality is that we all experience trials. We all have
expenses, and what makes up this list of expenses can sometimes be quite
staggering. In our household we have been in a prolonged season of considering
all of these things. Yet in this we have continually seen God sustain us, and
even bless us in some incredible ways and through a variety of means. While my
preference would have been all along that I was the one bringing home the funds
to meet the needs, God has shown me repeatedly that He is sovereign over both
the source of our provision and its extent. Yesterday we were all blessed when
Robin was taken on a clothes shopping trip. She had been taking in her clothes
in order to adjust to her loss of weight, and some dear friends got together
and had a representative of theirs take her shopping. This is not one of those
things that we counted as a need, but it is definitely one in which God moved
the hearts of others to provide for her as a blessing of love. There are many
other stories that could be told where God has shown His great love for us. He
has been so good to us and has taken care of us during our time of waiting on
Him for a next place of ministry. And to Him and all of those He has used we
are so incredibly thankful.
He reminds us regularly that life truly is more than food
and clothing. It is a relationship with Him in which He embraces us, knowing everything
about us, and even showing us over and over again His abundant love through the
trials He strengthens us to endure. As I write these thoughts there are so many
passages which I have treasured that are so real and touchable.
But what Jesus had to say next in His Sermon on the Mount sums
it all up. This is particularly true for me with the reality of our week and
the timing of my reading these verses.
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor
reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you
not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single
hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the
lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you
that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is
thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or
‘What will we wear for clothing?’” (Matthew 6:26–31, NASB95)
Sure, I will likely continue to struggle with the questions
Jesus raised. “‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we
wear for clothing?’” Even in considering these verses today there have been
darts of question that have been tossed in. But in the struggling and the darts
of spiritual warfare I also am reminded of His loving faithfulness. All I have
to do is look around and see His goodness. Our God is alive and He is powerful
to do what He said He would do, and one of those things that He said He would
do is tend to the needs of His saints in His incredible ways, by His means, and
according to His perfect timetable. This remains true up and through that day
when we leave these bodies and find ourselves perfectly clothed in
righteousness in the presence of our Lord. I love the picture of His saints returning
with Jesus at the end of the tribulation. “And the armies which are in heaven,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.”
(Revelation 19:14, NASB95)
Scripture tells us in Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord
always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4–7, NASB95)
It is truly an amazing thing to look back on trials after
they pass and see what great things God did. I also baffle myself sometimes
when I remember the struggles of trust that I had in the process. Jesus said, “You
of little faith!” And for me I can definitely see those moments, but I also can
rejoice in the truth that God is faithful even when my faith is weak. It is in
times like this that I am reminded of how much He really does for those who are
His. In that I truly can rejoice and grow in not worrying.
No comments:
Post a Comment