A Great Trip



Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Matthew 6:31-32

Everyone worries and what we worry about most is how we will meet what we believe to be our obligations. Money is the top worry in people’s lives. How to pay for children’s needs, how to pay bills, how to buy school supplies and clothing are all legitimate needs for our families.

We also worry about others and how they are doing. We worry about our responsibilities at work and at church. We worry about the world as it is, politics, and how we should respond.

It seems that all of us are constantly in a state of worry or concern over the things that God has promised to provide. Our trust in Him and faith that He will provide is sorely lacking.

It does seem like a dilemma since we know we are to have faith that God will provide and at the same time we are required to take the steps necessary to provide for ourselves and to give God a tithe of our earnings.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

There are a couple things we can try to remember.  God knows what we need, not just material things, but the lack of things is sometimes what we need. Sometimes when His answer to our prayers is ‘no’, that is what we need. Trusting during these times is really tough.

Also, when God meets our needs, it is so we can abound in every good work. We are His representatives here and our lives, our trust, our faith need to show the world that He provides for us even when He says ‘no’ or ‘not yet’. They need to see the peace that He gives to His children who know that He loves us and will provide.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

He is the almighty God and can do anything He wants, but what He wants is for us to have a stronger relationship with Him. He wants us to show the world who He is so that they will come to Him.
If we are anxious and fretting about every little thing, it will show to those around us. We must remember the ripple effect that our actions and attitudes cause.

Those who do not come to God will not have this peace.  They may work hard, and their physical needs may or may not be met, but the abundant life God provides inside our hearts and minds is not theirs. Our treasure is in heaven and our treasure is in our relationship with God.

There is another request made by God that shows our faith and trust in His provision.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. Malachi 3:10

Tithing or giving a portion of our funds, time and talents to God is something everyone has struggled with at one time or another. Many, who have wealth, freely give and that is wonderful, but it doesn’t cost them as much as those who give out of their meager amount. 

When we think we need a certain amount to live on and that is all we have, it is very difficult to give a portion to God. It takes a great deal of faith and trust. Each of us must come to terms with this by prayer and trusting in Him.

He will bless us for our faithfulness, our good works, showing His great love through the way we live. He will turn our anxiety to peace and rejoicing. We will see the wonderful works of God in our lives and we will laugh at the lessons we learned along the way.

Walking with God is the journey of a lifetime and He has promised to meet our needs if we follow Him and take steps of faith. It is a wonderful trip as we learn to trust in Him.

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. …Matthew 6:25-34

Prayer: Oh, great and loving God, the road we travel in this world is so difficult, but with you by our sides, it is just a great trip. Give us the faith and trust we need to give you your portion, to show the world your faithfulness, and to continue that trust even when you say ‘no’ to our requests. We look forward to the next road you have us turn down and we hold tightly to your hand.  Amen.




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