She was sick, and getting sicker by the day. As she awaited news from the doctor about her diagnosis, she worried. How would they pay for treatment? Would they lose everything they had worked for after so many decades of making a secure life for their family? Would they have to file bankruptcy in order for her to receive treatment if the diagnosis was indeed cancer? For most of her life, they talked about faith, and how God would take care of them no matter what happened. And so insurance seemed like a joke- a display of trusting in an insurance company, and not God. Until now. Now, she wasn't so sure.
This scenario plays out in many various ways, but the same principle holds true- faith without preparation. I am a firm believer in faith, and know that God can do the impossible. In fact, He has done the impossible for me many times over, so I've personally experienced the truth of it. That said, I also firmly believe that God wants us to prepare with good sense. We should be responsible with what He has entrusted us with, and make choices that will help us when we are in trouble.
The situation our world is facing right now is one that calls us to both faith, and preparedness. Faith that God is in control, and always has been. Faith that He will is my Helper and Friend. Faith that He will work all things out for good- because scripture promises us this. But we also want to be prepared. Being prepared doesn't necessarily mean we buy all the toilet paper, but it is wise to make preparations for the unknown circumstances of our immediate future. And it always helps to know that while the future isn't known by us, it is known by Him. And so we have this constant balance of faith and preparation- a mix that gives security to our families, and a hope to the anxious soul.
This situation made me think of the Israelites, and how they faced the same balance. The Lord provided for their daily needs in the wilderness by giving them fresh manna each day (a small, round, white substance they used to bake bread). They were to only collect what they needed for that day, yet some of them felt greedy and lacked faith that He would provide the next day, so they took more than their share. What happened to the excess? It rotted, and was useless. Their disobedience to gather more than they needed ended up in a smelly basket of rotten manna. Did God want them to prepare? Yes, but He also wanted them to obey and trust Him to provide for their needs the next day as well.
The purpose of this post isn't to scold anyone for buying more than our daily needs, but rather to remind us of the importance of both preparing for the future, and believing that God is in control. 100 rolls of toilet paper won't eliminate the fact that I still need God. We can, and should prepare, but we still need God every second of every day. Whether we are in times of plenty, or leaner times, God wants us to trust Him- yet all while being wise. This is true in our marriages, our careers, our home life, our parenting- every single sphere! So while this virus can cause us to feel uncertain and fearful, we can choose to push away the fear and allow our faith to lead us to a better place. We will do what we can to prepare for tomorrow, trusting that God will be there, just as He's here today. And sometimes, this is just the faith exercise that I need to remember Who He is, and witness His great power in not only my own life, but the whole world.
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 (ESV)
That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5 (ESV)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for providing for us, and for seeing to our needs. We ask for forgiveness for our oftentimes lack of faith, and pray that even in this time, our faith would be increased. May we not only witness Your power, but may others see it in me. In Your name we pray, Amen!
I'll let you guys in on a little secret about me- I am 48 years old, and I'm scared of the dark. Not the kind of scared where I hide under the covers, but I don't enjoy the darkness. In the dark of night, I hear the weirdest noises, and my imagination goes into overdrive. There is something unsettling about being in the dark, and not knowing what could be there. Even with my trusty Glock by my side, I still prefer the light of day.
Being separated from my husband created a new kind of darkness. Yes, I didn't like being alone in bed at night, but I'm talking about a darkness inside of me. My world was no longer bright, cheerful, and sunny. Instead, I felt gloomy, alone and vulnerable. Just as a dark night can hide a potential threat, the darkness in my marriage created an uncertainty that left me fearful and unsettled.
Truth be told, I would much rather sit in a spooky house overnight, by myself, than sit in the middle of a troubled marriage. While my fear is just imagined in a dark house, it's real in a marriage on the rocks. When I can't see what's ahead, I am called to faith, and when my faith is in the Solid Rock of Christ, I have no reason to fear. Darkness doesn't really have power over me when I recognize His ability to banish it, and spill His perfect light into all my unknowns.
I think one of the reasons we are uncomfortable with darkness is its ability to hide things from our sight. And yet, when it comes to our lives, we have no idea what tomorrow will hold for us. The future is not known, so we are called to something that gives us the assurance we need- faith! While my marriage was unclear, unsettling, and worrisome, I can rest in knowing my Heavenly Father will handle the stresses of tomorrow. When I can trust Him in the darkest places, my fear will transform into an unshakable faith.
In my marriage, I had to come to the place where I rested in His capable ability to handle it. It was terrifying to look ahead, not knowing which direction it would take. But when I saw His precious hand guiding me, calling me to trust Him and just let go, the darkness didn't stand a chance. Instead, I could hear His sweet voice reminding me of this wonderful truth- "Ruth, trust Me, and never forget, I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 ESV).
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 ESV
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14 ESV
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 ESV
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. Psalm 18:28 ESV
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your light- it comforts me in the darkness, and chases away my fears. I know You are always with me. I have nothing to fear when my faith is grounded in You. Help me to remember this when my circumstances seem dark and uncertain. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
