"But you know that we are destined for such troubles…" 1st Thessalonians 3:3
The LORD likes use repeatative motions to get my attention. This summer her's been a consistent theme of trusting Him financially, both in the support raising aspect and in the day-to-day finances. I'm paid well at my nannying job, don't get me wrong. It's just that some days the bills seem to be way more than I could ever hope to pay. My car insurance, for example, is hovering at a whopping $368 balance, and not because I haven't made payments on time. That's just what needs to be paid between now and October, when my policy runs out. (the irony that my policy ends the month I leave for Race is not lost on me.)
I spent the better part of this morning anxiously crunching the numbers, calculating just how much I would have to pay each week so that I could finish paying for it prior to leaving for Georgia in a month. The number felt staggering. Where in the world was I supposed to come up with an extra hundred dollars a week? In reading my devotions just a little while ago, I was reminded that as a believer, I should expect troubles (like financial stuff) to come up. The Enemy, it seems, will spare no expense to make me feel alienated from the LORD.
I'm so thankful that the Bible has roadmaps for situations like these. We're told to take every thought captive, to submit our requests for the LORD to see. My prayer went something like:
"Ok, you promised to provide for me. You tell me that I shouldn't worry, that if the sparrows-who somehow are fed everyday though they don't plan for it–are taken care of,that that should tell me you'll take care of me too. We made a covenant. I promised to put you first financially and you said you would take care of me. You're not a God who lies or who doesn't hold up His end of the bargain. So I need help. I need you to hold up your end of the bargain. Provide for me like you promise you will. Thank you for how you WILL do that. I love you. Amen."
And I'm not saying it's a magic prayer, but is He holding up His end of the covenant? Yeah, yeah He is.
