God is funny. Just when we think He is teaching us something, He really teaches us about it. Then one month later, He teaches us about it AGAIN. This pattern continues, and I suspect that the wisdom I have gained from Him thus far on the matter is only the start. For me, this continual lesson in varying degrees has been how God has revealed Himself as Provider. I would have told you two years ago with great esteem that God was my Provider– that I was learning what it looked like to fully trust that He would sustain me in all ways when submitting and surrendering my plans to Him. JOKES ON ME. *cue nervous laughter* Just when I thought I was learning all of this, I would find myself wide-eyed as He revealed Himself as Provider in even greater ways than ever before.
I’ve learned that provision is so much grander than how this world views it. While, yes, it is financial provision, it is also provision of joy, gratitude, opportunity, relationship, zeal, patience, fortitude, and the list goes infinitely onward. It is provision of the unseen things and provision of the seen things. It is procurement in the worldly ways that allows rent to be paid and bills to be covered, and it is procurement in the spiritual ways that pull you that much closer to the One supplying it all in the first place.
A few months ago, I told a group of girls I lead that this is a season I don’t think I would necessarily ever want to be in again as I so heavily am required to rely on God for my daily needs and cling to His provision, not knowing how or when it will come. But after saying all that and witnessing the many God-moves in my life, I TAKE IT BACK!!! Who am I to wish away a season where I get to regularly lean forward on the edge of my seat in expectant wonder of what God does next– of how He sustains me next?! I’ve been waiting on a big promise to come to pass that would be a beautiful bout of financial provision from Him, but in the meantime, I so trust God that I will wait on Him to do what He wants to do for an eternity if necessary because He has never let me down. Not once. I would go as far as to say that I think I would stay in this place forever if that is what He had for me because I know, without fail, that He will provide. I get to cling to Him and see Him show up countless times as He pours out more than I could ever imagine.
These lessons of provision have challenged me with the ways in which I speak about it all as well. Before, I would tell others about how God was truly teaching me what it looks like to know Him as Provider, but the way I expressed and worded it was diminishing. The way I spoke about it was leaving out SO MUCH of the God-glorifying narrative. I would tell people that I was “just getting by” each month– that I was amazed each month as He came through with “just enough” to take care of me. As I have fallen more and more in love with Jesus, He has raised the bar and expectation of what true love and acknowledgement of His goodness looks like. The Holy Spirit convicted me that every time I spoke that I was “just getting by” or had “just enough” that I was limiting my expression of His glory– that I was forgetting to mention that I am not just getting by, but I am thriving! I don’t have to be amazed in disbelief each month if I just rock-solidly know that my God is faithful. He is true to His promises. He always comes through.
My finances may be covered on a month to month basis by His goodness, but in all ways, I am thriving. He is pouring out wealth over my life. I have learned repeatedly to reframe my earnings– to reframe them in countercultural ways. God works outside, above, and beyond everything in this natural world. If He calls you to something, He will make ways for it to happen, even if you have no idea how it will happen financially. When standing firmly in obedience to God, He always sustains. Yes, He provides in practical ways like bringing bouts of income and opportunity to make said income, but He also pours out wealth in ways the world forgets about- the “only God” kind of ways. He will surround you with so great a multitude of “earnings” if only you would open your eyes to see them! He will teach you facets of a God-given wealth that cannot be imitated by this world. He will surprise you. He will spoil you. He will enlighten you with what TRUE wealth is.
I have more than I could ever need. I am more in love with Him than ever before. I have more joy and gratitude. I have greater urgency and desire to dwell in His presence and build His Kingdom with zeal. He has given me every last droplet of it. He is Provider.
It is so hard to live in this world and not think like this world, but, wow, when you learn that living in absolute obedience and surrender to God is seen and cared for by Him in all ways, you will never want to go back. His steady provision in my life is proof positive that seeking to live in His call for your life will never leave you lacking. I could write an entire book of the ways, some seemingly impossible in the natural, that God has shown Himself faithful in His provision. Knowing God as true Provider, you won’t worry in the same ways. You might look crazy in the eyes of those who don’t quite yet understand His care, but they will benefit from the testimony of provision He brings.
To God, providing is easy. It can happen in a moment. He can provide finances in a moment, and He can provide joy in a moment. He can provide zeal in a moment, and He can provide opportunity for relationship in a moment. What God brings in these moments, though, is more fulfilling because it is covered from top to bottom in His goodness and His timing. We learn a great deal about the trust we have in Him and the eyes and attitude we view Him through when we are utterly dependent on Him. It’s not God that needs to know if we trust Him– it’s us that need to know that we trust Him. It’s us that need to know that we get all things from Him– whether it’s love, peace, joy, wisdom, or financial provision. It’s all His. It all comes from Him.
I wear a necklace everyday that says “Jehovah Jireh,” which means the Lord will provide, because I never want to forget the ways I have found my awe and wonder of Him multiply. When you trust Him with that which seems scariest, you will see His hand in everything. I dare you for a moment– Take a second glance. Widen your focus. You have more than you’d ever realize. Where you thought you were merely getting by and surviving, you’re actually thriving. This world and culture’s basis for thriving is not free, but ours is. Our basis for thriving comes in the form of relationship with Jesus. That is FREE. Thriving where you are takes waking up and making a daily effort to see every itty bitty ounce of provision in all ways that He is bringing to you anew each day. Seeing His over-abundance in your life takes continual perspective changes as you reteach your eyes to recognize His wealth over the world’s definition of wealth. Look long enough, though, and you will soon see that you are RICH. You are wealthier than you could ever imagine. Linger and dwell and immerse yourself so deeply in His presence, and you will see His lavishness pouring out in overwhelming quantities. Suddenly tension points feel like the greatest blessing, areas of doubt become miracles, and questions and hesitations on how/what/why become declarations of GOD DID AND IS DOING _______. It recreates wonder and awe. It douses perspective in reverence. You will never see provision the same.
Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. . .”
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