October – God’s Provision…

Years ago when I was fundraising for my trip to Argentina I used to take lots of walks.  While I walked I would pray and seek God’s direction and wisdom.  It was during these walks that I would question if this was really the path that God had me on… fundraising was always a challenge as it was the one part of the preparation that I had no control over… all I could do was ask and wait for God’s provision.  God confirmed that I was on the right path and that He would provide for all my needs through something small that most people overlook.  I saw a penny on the ground and I picked it up.  Most people just walk by a penny on the ground but I stopped and picked it up.  You may be wondering how a penny could be confirmation from God… it was because of four little words “In God We Trust”. 

God was reminding that He can provide for all my needs no matter how great they may seem.  He has proven Himself faithful throughout the years.  I could trust in Him.  One of my favorite verses has always been Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight”. 

Trusting has not always been easy for me.  I have always had difficulties trusting people… often times people fail.  They don’t live up to my expectations or they do something deliberately that breaks my trust of them.  God has done a lot of work in my life in the area of trust but I still struggle on occasion.

 Although people have not been trustworthy one thing I can say for sure is that God has always been trustworthy and yet I still struggle trusting Him.  Why that is I am not sure… But in His grace He constantly reminds me that He is trustworthy.  Every time I see a coin I am reminded that I can trust Him and believe me throughout the year I have picked up many coins and thought of this truth. 

God has always proven Himself trustworthy by being faithful to His promise to provide for our needs when we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.  At times He also provides us with things we don’t need because He enjoys to bless His children.  My plan was to return to Argentina and I was content with all God had given me and yet He blessed me with even more and provided me with a husband and a son. 

I have never been wealthy in the eyes of the world and yet though out the years God has provided me with what I needed at just the right moment.  I love looking back on my life and seeing how much God has provided at just the right minute. 

One incident that I remember clearly is that when I was in high school I used to do child care for single mothers who didn't have much money.  I would watch the children for really cheap and often times they still couldn't even afford to pay me.  One of the ladies had me tally up my hours and told me should would get me the money when she could afford to.  Eventually her son grew up and she didn't need my services and I went on with my life… I didn't think about the money because I knew that God had placed me in her life at just the right moment to serve her.  It was years later when I was a poor college student that she came to me one day and wrote a check for all the hours I had worked.  God had provided for my financial needs at just the right moment. 

I could mention many stories like that one in which God provided in unexpected ways.  God has proven Himself faithful to Matthew and me this past year.  When we were doing marriage counseling we had to make up a budget to go over with our pastor.  He laughed at our budget and told us there was no way we could make it on a budget that low… of course our response was we couldn't budget more money than what we had coming in.  Our income was really low and therefore we had to spend our money wisely.

 Matthew and I prayed about it and decided that I shouldn't work but focus on finishing my last year of college.  It was what was best for our family since many times I was taking a double load of school and adjusting to being a wife and a mother but it was also a difficult decision since it meant we had to trust God to provide for all our needs especially when I income went down even lower than expected (and for a couple months we didn't receive a paycheck).  BUT God has been faithfully providing month after month, day after day. 

It is amazing to look back on the past year and see the different ways in how God provided.  We received money from unexpected sources just about every month.  Of course, all the gift cards we received from our wedding were a huge help as it provided Matthew and I with random dates throughout the years.  One day I received a check in the mail from a lawsuit they did on illegal overseas credit card charges.  Another time I got a check from Multicare saying they overcharged me the year before and I had a credit in my account.  I was able to get gift cards from all the money I had spent on my credit cards throughout the years.  Right in time for Christmas and winter electric bills we were given a month off of rent from our landlords.  Just in time for major expenses on my car we got a check back from our tax return. 

I could go on and on describing how God has provided in unexpected random ways… but in all that we have had to be faithful in how we spent what God gave us.  We didn't really have any extra money just enough to get through each month so we've really learned to communicate and spend our money wisely.  We also knew the importance of giving back to God through tithing at church and even took on the challenge our Pastor gave the congregation to increase it.  We have learned the truth in seeking first God’s kingdom and watching how He does provide for all our needs. 

So, next time you see a coin... pick it up and remember that we can trust in God.  He is faithful to provide what we need at just the right moment.  I am content… I am content knowing that God will continue to be faithful no matter what our circumstances… and I am content knowing that today is the day that He has provided me with a job… of course it isn't one in which I will make lots of money but it is enough to meet our needs for today.  Thank you Father..!