The Ultimate and Faithful Provider
Though there are countless testimonies of how God has provided, the true act that we should continue to point ourselves back to is when God provided His Son on our behalf. The Lord has overcome the world by paying the ultimate price at the cross. Now, nothing can separate us from His love. Even when we turn our backs from Him in selfishness or pride, nothing changes His faithfulness.
God’s faithfulness does not depend on our own. Nor does His provision depend upon our asking. Still, when we are faced with an unforeseen difficult situation; we can allow worry, fear, and even doubt to creep in and steal our trust upon God’s faithfulness.
Years back, my roommates unexpectedly moved (For really awesome reasons!) and I had less than a month to figure out several concerns that come along with unexpected change. Where would I live? Would I find a new roommate? How would I survive in this city on my own? SO many questions. SO many concerns. SO little effort to rest in God and trust that He would provide.
James 1:2-8
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
If you are facing a time where you need God to show up, let me encourage you in two ways. First, view this as a great opportunity for God to develop and refine you. And second, allow Him to be the ultimate provider.
God sees what you are going through — far more than what you currently see (Isaiah 55:8-9). If we compare our limited perspective to all that God sees, there is a high chance that we may confuse our “wants” as actual “needs.” God knows the best option for us and cares so much that He wants us to depend on Him to provide. Think of that, the Creator of the universe wants you to come to Him for your needs. How neat is that?
As a Christian, you are His beloved child and He will not let you out of His sight. He has purpose for your life, for His glory and good. He began a work in you, is sanctifying you, and hasn’t brought you this far just to abandon you (Philippians 1:6).
In prayer and time in His word, Allow God to reveal to you who He truly is and who you are in Him. Bring your needs and concerns to the one who created you and has the power to provide in all things. Most importantly, rest in and place your dependence upon Him, instead of yourself.
Seek His guidance and be obedient to what He may call you to. Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal to you how He may use this difficulty to develop you to reflect His character more. Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone while depending on the strength of the Holy Spirit. He took my initial bad attitude and doubts about finding an apartment or a roommate, and through dependence on Him, changed my perspective.
I had to ask around. I had to look for apartments. I had to have hard conversations. But through all of this, I learned to trust God and depend on Him as my provider. I had to learn that He is my most important need — not just a new apartment. He would use the hard things in my life to bring me closer to Him and to strengthen me. Because of this situation, God’s faithfulness was glorified and my source of dependence upon Him (not only for materialistic things) was increased.
Through my time of need, God showed himself as my Faithful Provider. I found an apartment and was blessed with an awesome new roommate. It was not perfect apartment, but it was more than enough. God knew what I needed and He provided so I could continue to pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord which would glorify Him.
Luke 12:22-28
And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds”
His word confirms that He will take care of the needs of those who love Him. These are my prayers for you, for whenever you face a hardship or need to remember the faithfulness of God:
See Him not simply as a gift giver but as the ultimate gift.
Recognize that He has the best plan for you, even if you can’t see the full picture yet. Trust in Him and desire that your life would honor His Name.
Seek God first and rest knowing that He has already provided your greatest need in Christ. Know that He will be faithful in providing your ultimate needs.