We've had countless discussions with friends over the years regarding the toughness of maintaining financial stability, especially in a one-income household. In these questionable economic times, while some of our lives are being affected more than others, it is a question we all must ask; do we really trust in God to provide?
I think sometimes I get confused as to what His provision looks like. I often think "provision" means God providing enough money to keep us "afloat" enough to maintain our current lifestyle. Could it be possible that He may call us to live a simpler lifestyle? What if sometime in the future my vehicle dies, there is no money to repair it, and I am forced to stay home all day every day, while my husband takes our only vehicle to work? This would be a MAJOR life change for me, as I enjoy having the freedom to go places during the day. If this freedom were lost, would I still consider God to be my Provider?
What if times became so tough that we were forced to give up certain things we have come to know as "needs", such as the Internet, cell-phone service, etc. Would God still be my Provider? What if we couldn't even pay the electric bill, or the mortgage? What if, in fact, Matt were to lose his job, was unable to find work, unemployment ran out, and we were forced to turn our home over to the bank and move in with family? Would God still be my Provider? What if family was unable to take us in and we had to move into a shelter? Would God still be my Provider?
What if my husband, children, and I were starving? Literally. I know this is extreme, and we are prone to think that would never happen to us, but does God promise to protect us from these things? What about the believing mother in Africa who prays to the Living God for food for her child and proceeds to watch him starve to death? It is REAL. It happens. If it were me, would I still call God my Provider? Would I still praise Him for his goodness? Would the promise alone of eternity in His presence be enough?
By wondering these things, let me make it clear that I'm not asking for a test. :) I just wonder how deep my faith really runs. Do I find it so easy to praise Him only because life is relatively easy right now? For I have never even begun to experience life without basic needs. Whatever happens, only through the grace of God will my prayer remain...
(If) the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
(If) the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
(If) there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
3 comments:
good thoughts, good questions, kati. (i love that verse, by the way!) it's easy to believe that God is good when THINGS are good, isn't it?
when situations are tough and difficult to understand, i always pray on behalf of that person that God will sustain - and even increase - his/her faith, no matter how the circumstances appear.
for me, tough times have brought me closer to God, or is God bringing me closer to Him? (since He first loved us). What I do know for sure is that, I have testimony after testimony of some really dark times in my life, and it was then that God shined the brightest, He increased my faith, and I would not trade those dark times, for times of worldly pleasure. And like you Katie, I do not want to ask for more storms, but at the same time, God used it to grow my faith in ways I could not do on my own "happy" times.
That is one of my favorite passages, Kati! It's easy to praise God and say that He is good when things are going well. . . . but will I say that He is good (or that He provides) when times are REALLY tough? His goodness does not fluctuate with my circumstances! Really good thoughts - thanks for sharing them.
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