This is truly an experiment in brain dumping on the subject of God's material blessings in my life. Random memories that I wanted to chronicle to hopefully encourage anyone who might be facing similar struggles in their own life.
Random #1 - God providing when I desperately needed a hand. This is going to be a long note . . . I remember walking through Walmart, didn't have enough money to buy my daughter diapers, and finding a $20.00 bill in my jacket pocket, which I had already checked when I left the house. Or once when my daughter really wanted to go out to eat in the Mall and I really wanted to spend that time with her in a sit-down restaurant. She started tugging my hand and with great excitement proclaimed that she wanted to eat at El Chico (local Tex-Mex restaurant located in the Mall). This was going to exceed my budget but I figured I'd order her a kids meal and skip my lunch. We were seated at a booth and while getting settled in our seats, she discovered a $100.00 bill tucked in the cushions. We called our waitress over, told her of our find, and asked who had been sitting in these seats this morning. She said no one had sat at this booth for a two days, they had a leak in their ceiling and had roped off this section. She checked with her manager and he said no one had let them know they had lost any money in their restaurant. At this point my daughter was almost jumping up and down proclaiming that God was buying our lunch. And she was right!
These are just a few of the many times God has showed His hand of faithfulness in my life. My parents paying for most of my daughter's braces when that specific bill exceeded all of our financial options. Strangers paying for funeral costs when my ex-wife's Mom passed away, another time after a challenging season of medical expenses, a group of friends at church pitched together to give us a car! (Which became the car my daughter drove until after she graduated college!) Or that time when close friends, who knew of my struggles after my divorce, provided money for my new apartment's deposit, first month's rent, and even enough to pay off two other pressing financial obligations at the time! The church where I worked allowing me to 'move in' for almost four weeks before I could find an apartment after my divorce. Going to pay my medical bills at the doctor and being told that bill had already been paid! The church where I work paying for a unexpected tax bill due to a mistake processing our medical receipts. Cashier checks appearing in our mailbox, money in envelopes slid under my office door, and this is by no means a comprehensive list! There have been so many times where God showed us His mercy and provision over and over and over! Praise God for His faithfulness!
Random #2 - God moments when I needed them the most. This list could encompass several blogs! I'm thinking about so many times where friends called me to see if I needed to talk, opening up their homes when I felt like there was no safe place to rest, and shared meals when I lacked the resources to purchase groceries. So many cards and letters outlining how God had put me on their heart to pray specifically for my needs, I'm recalling the set of circumstances that God orchestrated to help get my daughter into high school and college. Or the countless moments experiencing God's Creation when He encouraged me, comforted me, or just reminded me of His Power through sunrises, storms, the quiet of a spring morning after a night of steady rain, the companionship of pets, the love of friends and family, and most importantly, His Words spoken through the Bible at just the right moment, with just the right clarity and wisdom.
"So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them." - Matthew 6:31-32
"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" - Matthew 7:11
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19
God is the ultimate provider. While Scripture does not promise to make every Christian financially wealthy, meet every want, or heal every hurt, the Bible does tell us that God will provide for our needs in a way that is best for us and best for His glory. His provision is just further proof of His faithfulness and grace.
He knows when you lack physical needs. He knows when you are concerned about your next paycheck. He knows, and He cares. These verses about God’s provision are just a small sample of His character. Present your concerns to God in prayer and trust that He will, like a good father, provide in a way that is best.
