A providing God

It seems you can hardly turn anywhere today without seeing reminders of economic hardships. A couple weeks ago the news reported we are experiencing the highest unemployment rate our country has seen in 60 years. Friends and family members are suffering due to the loss of jobs, investments gone bad, and cutbacks that seem to be everywhere.

I have many friends who have lost their jobs lately, or have been out of work due to illness or things of that nature. I know these people as pillars in their community who are known for their generosity and kind Christian spirits.

This week some have declared bankruptcy and have literally lost everything.

So, I've had to have some discussions with God about the absolute heartbreak of this situation. I know God is the great provider, so why isn't He providing for my friends? God is a miracle worker, so why isn't He working a miracle for my friends?

These are fair questions about what seems like a terribly unfair situation.

Whenever I face situations I am having a hard time understanding, I have to park my mind with what I know to be true. Keeping my mind saturated with truth keeps Satan from being able to whisper dangerous assumptions, false accusations, and faith-eroding perspectives.

So, what is true in this situation? What is true no matter what situation we are facing?

God is a good provider.

This is true. This is where I must park my mind. This is the reality that must saturate my thoughts. This truth rises above our troubling circumstances and calls us to see life from a perspective outside our screaming realities.

God richly provides us with everything we need. Therefore I must trust that God is providing for my friends. And Ive heard many of them testify that even with being out of work, for whatever reason, God has infinitely provided for them. What is in front of my friends is God's provision. God hasn't stopped providing just because my friends are in financial turmoil. This situation hasn't caught God off guard. God hasn't somehow run out of resources to help my friend.

Part of God's perfect provision for my friends is to walk through this. I may not like it. I may not understand it. But, because my friends know and love God, I have peace that they will make it through this.


The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8-9 that if we think on what is true, the peace of God will be with us. And ultimately, isn't peace what we want? That's what I really want for my friend. I want these precious people and their families to have peace more than I want their dealership to be saved, their finances restored, and their old life to suddenly come back and settle into place.
Praise God, His peace is but an utterance of truth away.

So, park your mind with His truth today. And watch God's perfect provision of peace flood whatever dry and lacking ache you are experiencing right now.

Lord, thank You for being my provider each day. Help me not to fear these times of hardship. Rather, help me to trust in You and Your ways more each day. My desire is to focus on what is true and believe that You will make the rough places smooth.