God the Provider. Jehovah Jireh is able to meet every need we could possibly have. He knows just what we need before we do.
This week, I had a particularly hard day. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned before, but my career is in the Supply Chain. Which, just in case you haven’t heard, has been very stressed and strained, stretched thin and intermittent at best sometimes. These last two years have been such a roller coaster, such a turmoil of constant stress and worry and trying to be two-steps ahead alll the TIME!!
This past week, I received some terrible news concerning a particular aspect of my supply chain, and although I completely understand it’s out of my control, that I couldn’t have done anything to stop it, to see it coming, etc. That I simply have to do what I can to minimize the damage, it doesn’t change how I feel about it. It doesn’t change that I somehow feel that I have failed. That I have failed myself, failed my company, failed my coworkers. There’s just something about the situation that absolutely breaks my heart when it happens, like it’s some reflection upon me and my ability to do my job. And, as I stated, even though I know in my head, that logically it is out of my control – it’s hard to get that from my head to my heart somedays. That I know I tried my best. That I know that I’m doing everything I can. But somedays, it’s just so big that it breaks me a bit. That it takes me down a few notches, throws me back, and takes my breath away.
So, I had one of those days this week. One of those days, where I just want to go home and try again tomorrow. That I just want to wallow in self-pity and wonder why things have to be so hard sometimes. But, I didn’t. I kept plugging about my day, step-by-step. I did some coping techniques, focused on things I could control, accomplished several smaller tasks that I could handle, took time to be quiet and alone with God. Prayed for Him to help me. And, I went about the rest of my work-day. Also, with the ever-present thought, that even though I haven’t had a drink in 4 years, that I could really use one. Because that lovely, nagging thought always seems to pop up in those moments. But I also knew that I had to stay strong and not give in to that notion. I wasn’t sure how, but that wasn’t the answer.
Thankfully, I believe in the Great Big God, that provides. The Great Big God who does have the answer. He had already put it on my heart to swing by and drop off some paperwork with someone after work that day. They had requested it days before, but were fine with waiting until I had time to stop by. I had already made up my mind prior to this day’s events that I was going to be stopping by that night. As I was hanging out with this person, they were simply updating me on this week’s events, what was happening in their life. And they weren’t really complaining or anything, they were just talking – updating me because that’s what we do. And, as I hung out, I noticed some things that might need some attention as well. So, I said, well, let’s go take care of that right now. They were in need of gasoline, so I filled up their tank. They were in need of some other things too, so without asking I took care of those things too. Then, I went home. After I got home, they realized that I had given them much more than they originally thought. So, they reached out to thank me again and promise repayment, to which I stated, it’s a gift, don’t worry about it and then I said, “Sometimes life is just hard, and it’s just nice to have good people in your life that make it seem not so hard.”
Then, one of my coworkers texted me, to check on me, since they knew that I had a particularly tough day. And I realized, I felt so much better than I had just an hour before. I had helped someone, without being asked, just because I wanted to and I could. God had given me this opportunity and I was so grateful for it. And, low and behold, the urge to have a drink had absolutely melted away.
The next morning, I woke up, and one of the survivors I spoke of last week had messaged me, they read my post. They just wanted to let me know again, how grateful they were and how much they missed me and that they think of me daily. God moving through them, to encourage me again. I’m so blessed. What a great way to start the day!
Then, later that day, I was working with another person who was going to be taking our couch, and they were telling me how they wouldn’t be able to help because they had to take their car to the shop. So, again, God gave me a nudge. And, I decided to help them out too. Without asking, without anything from them, I just know that life is hard sometimes. And sometimes you get to be the one that’s blessed, and sometimes you get to be the one blessing others.
I should preface some of this with the fact that I had been blessed the week prior and as I was trying to figure out how I was going to honor God with that blessing. During church, He had given me a word and a dollar figure on how we were going to honor Him with the blessing I had received. I had this plan on Sunday, but I had a whole week before I planned on returning to church to fulfill this. But, during that time I was also praying that he help me honor Him through this. And, here he had dropped two people into my lap that I could bless. I feel like that was all part of the plan. That the Spirit and I were in tune, and that God could forsee that I was going to need some double-heapings of encouragement to make it through the week. So, he brought all these people and situations together to help me remember whose I am. Help encourage me when I’m feeling down. To help me help others, which is truly what it’s all about. To bring it all together, to shine His light even when our own light is feeling dim, or maybe when His light is all we have at the moment. That when I cannot go on by my own strength, that His strength can do all things. That He makes all things possible. That I just need to stay on the path, less like me and more like Him, each day, sometimes minute by minute. But, I am tapped in to the Almighty, that He lifts me up and restores my soul. That if I just have faith in Him, He will sustain me and fill my cup overflowing.
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, Dear Jehovah Jirah, thank you. Thank you for being the Great Provider, The Great I AM, who knows my every need. The God who is the good, good Father, who knows just what I need before I do. Who knows what challenges I will face and is there in the answer before I even know what I need. Who makes a way for me, all I have to do is trust you. Thank you Father God, for being so incredible. For being such a planner, to set all these things into motion so they were ready, right when I needed them. Thank you Father God, for being the Great I AM, and for sending your son that I might have a personal relationship with you – so I can ever be a witness and share my testimony to your goodness and your love. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!
Walking in Faith 