You could smell the fried chicken as we walked out of the restaurant, but we pranced out as if nothing was unusual.
When I was in dental hygiene school, my friends and I never had enough money to go out to dinner…unless it was all you can eat night at Wilbur’s Barbeque. On those nights, we gathered our pennies and eat until we hurt. We filled our tummies with fried chicken, hushpuppies, barbequed potatoes, coleslaw, and banana pudding. I can almost taste it years later. Then, when we thought no one was looking, we slipped the leftover chicken and hushpuppies into our oversized purses…enough to last for a few days. I’m sure we weren’t fooling anyone as the aroma followed us out the door.
OK, so I know this might not have been the right thing to do. It was a long time ago. Sorry, Wilbur. But today, I was thinking about us fried-chicken-smelling poor college students, as I read God’s commands to the Israelites in the wilderness. Remember the story?
God freed about 2 million Israelites from years of Egyptian slavery. They crossed the parted Red Sea on dry land and headed for the wilderness. After a few days, they grumbled against the LORD, and wished they were back in Egypt where they “sat around pots of meat.” Yes, they preferred slavery to the known, rather than freedom in the unknown. As we say in the South, “that will preach.” But let’s talk about the food situation. Here’s what God said:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way, I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” 16:4-5
Now let’s skip down to 16:17-20.
The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
Moses wasn’t the only one mad at Israelites who hid the food. God was angry because they didn’t trust Him. He gave them a test, and some of them failed miserably.
Which brings me to my own issues with trusting God? Do I trust Him to provide for me today? Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. But today? What keeps me from believing that God is enough and will give me enough?
Didn’t Jesus tell us to pray… “Give us this day our daily bread”? Not weekly. Not monthly. But daily.
Here’s a truth we can hang on to. God will never put us in a situation in which He is not enough or will not give us enough. I may be in a situation that is more than I can handle, but not more than He can handle. He is more than enough to give us our daily bread, whatever that bread may look like in our individual situations.
In the New Testament, we read the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 13:13-21) and the 4,000 (Matthew 15:29-39). When did the meager pieces of bread multiply and become enough? When it was put in Jesus’ hands. When will our “meager pieces of bread” (what we do have) become enough? When we put them in Jesus’ hands. A little is always enough when God’s in it.
Jesus doesn’t just give us what we need. Jesus is what we need. Click & Tweet! He is the bread of life.Father, thank You for giving me what I need to face each day. Help me to not worry about tomorrow but trust You for today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What are you trusting God for today? Leave a comment and then let’s pray for each other.
We say we trust God, but do we really mean it? And what does trusting God really look like? In this Girlfriends in God book, Trusting God, Sharon, Gwen, and Mary share their own personal struggles and how they’ve learned to trust God through them. They bring their combined experiences and biblical knowledge to into one place to help you wrestle with the weighty issues in your own life. This twelve-week devotional study includes a Bible-study guide and journal pages.
Comments 45
In trusting God it means giving up the driver’s sit. When we do this it leaves room for HIM to choose the road, not just the familiar but new roads less traveled tailored to our specific needs.
Hi thank you for your teachings, you bless me so much. Am trusting and believing God for a job,it’s been a challenge,I feel like I have been moving in cycles with no progress…I have gone over board to apply for jobs but no opportunities.Am a university graduate,your prayers will be appreciated.May God continue to bless you more.
I once was looking for a job as I had been laid off. I was getting frustrated after 3 months of solid leads and interviews. However, I did keep up my prayers. Turns out the job was not quite ready for me when I 1st started looking. The beginning of the 4th month of job searching I contacted a previous co-worker who talked to their employer, got an interview and after all said and done, they would have a job open in two weeks for me (not doing what I wanted, however, it lead to a way better position in 6 months inside this company). God had not had the job ready yet (all in God’s timing). I am, to this day, 6 1/2 years later, very grateful for this job. I love it. The employers are good Christian people and take care of their employees. I just had to be patient.
God Bless you for being a witness to others!
Good morning,
I am trusting God for an open door in a new job opportunity I am standing on the doorstep of retrenchment and trusting God to make a way for me.
I am trusting God today for the salvation of my son and the restoration of my marriage and family. And the truth be revealed of what has been lied about. Also that God fix me and prepare me for His purpose.
I am trusting with you! I am separated from my husband his choice, I am trusting GOD to lead and guide me they he wants me to concerning my marriage. I am not sure to ask for restoration or not only GOD will tell. I just don’t want to do it my way anymore, I NEED GOD to drive!!!!
Good morning. First I just want to say thank you for your devotions. They have inspired me in many ways. I am trusting God for a financial blessing. Some areas in my life that need help is discipline, procrastination and distraction. I also is trusting God to fix a very special friend marriage. I’m asking for restoration and forgiveness!!
i am trusting God for a place to stay with my kids, have been taken in by family but some of my furniture is outside.
I am unemployed and praying and trusting God for opening doors of opportunities to create income streams (employment, speaking or training opportunities,), and praying that my desire is aligned with God’s will for my life.
I am trusting God to give me peace, I’m almost 100% sure my husband was with another woman yesterday while he was supposed to be at work. When I calmly told him his shirt smelled like perfume he said it was impossible. I am praying that God will restore what the devil is taking from my relationship 10 fold. I am praying for grace, patience and understanding. We have been together for 21 years with 4 kids. Please pray for me.
Faith,
Praying for you. This is a hard road I’ve recently walked through.
Love,
Misty
GOD will grant you the Grace and Peace that you need to get through this Storm! Let GOD lead you and guide you every step of the way. Before you speak pray, before to cook for him pray, pray that GOD will keep your mind and your thoughts! He will carry you through this Storm just hold on, and you and your Marriage will be stronger!!!!
Hi. I want to be closer to God than before
I am planning on retiring in a year and a hald. Very happy about that but I am also startimg to stress a little about how we will handle less money coming in. Your devotion was just what I needed right now. Thank you for reminding me that God will supply all my needs one day at a time.
I am planning on retiring in a year and a half. Very happy about that but I am also startimg to stress a little about how we will handle less money coming in. Your devotion was just what I needed right now. Thank you for reminding me that God will supply all my needs one day at a time.
i am trusting God for a financial breakthrough, for unity in my family, for peace at work and acceptance of things i cannot change at work, for deliverance of my colleagues, for a new car
I am trusting God for peace and closure in/through things I cannot change, for guidance, for continued growth/transformation in marriage restoration and in each of us and our children.
I’m trusting God to help my daughter with a difficult situation.
I’m trusting God to restore the faith of my 3 children who have lost faith. I am also trusting him to guide all ten of our children in His path for them. In addition I am struggling to trust God for our finances. The future seems bleak but I am committed to trust. thanks for this great devotion.
I trust in God can change our hearts.
Trusting God to provide a job for me – I was laid off last week. I am not young anymore and trying to find a job will not be easy – seems like it will take God’s intervention. Please pray for peace through this storm.
I’m trusting God for healing the pain in my back and remove the tingling in my feet, and hand. plus dizziness.
I am trusting God to heal my daughter of her chronic illnesses and give her good health to live for him.
I am trusting God to put me in a position that is pleasing to myself and my future husband. I pray the benefits and wages are more than I expect .most importantly a place where God can use me.
Father I am trusting You to bring to light all that has been hidden. Bring to light all that has been planned and done in darkness . Provide for my daughter and grandchildren. Give them a home, food, clothing, car and all that they need. Most importantly give them Jesus. Save them. Also I pray for my children who are struggling first draw those who have wandered away back to You. Give them peace, joy , contentment and increase their faith. Heal their broken hearts, restore and renew their minds and hearts. Hold them in Your loving arms and hide them under the shadow of Your wings. Set angels round about them to guide and protect them. May each of them see You in all things and trust You with and in all. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen ,
Please pray for me..I have been dealing with health struggles and anxiety for many years and trying to trust God daily to help heal me and also release me from these struggles of anxiety. Also been waiting about a year for job opportunities and been praying for Him to open doors and lead me
I am trusting God with my Grandson, who has not been feeling well, that he will get better. In Jesus name, Amen.
I am trusting God will send me a job, that will work out just right for me. I lost mine 2weeks ago and am looking at getting evicted out of a place to live if I dont find one soon.
Praying that our office building will sell…and that we can make the right decision to continue our business as is or officially retire. Help us to know what is right?
I been a widow now for 10yrs and I’m seeing someone for almost a year now and his a US military and also a Christian like me.. I’m trusting,believing and have faith that his the one I’m praying for.
I am trusting God to provide a new job for me. I have been searching for a job since May and while I have had some very promising interviews for positions that seemed to be the right fit, I have not been the candidate that they hirfed. I am trusting that God will direct me to the position that he has planned for me. May his will be done in my life and in the mean time I will walk this road by faith and believing that he will provide what I need and that it will be enough for me.
This is really good and I am happy you posted it. Something that I needed to be reminded of.
I am needing prayer for my 15 year old son. He needs to feel Jesus’ arms around him. He is going through a rough patch right now. Girls, bullies….
I am trusting God today to bring my prodigal children back into His loving arms!
I’m trusting God will heal my son from drugs and get his life together and my husband to quit drinking. They both need Jesus in their life.
I am trusting God to get me to Oklahoma City; near my family…after He has opened so very many doors for me.
I am trusting GOD for away to get out of debt. To be released from my apartment lease and to work very hard to be debt free as his word commands! I pray for my daughter that GOD will allow her to finish her Bachelor Degree even though there are many obstacles. I am Trusting GOD to move in her situation. I pray for my youngest son to be be able to be self sufficient in High School and be able to have a Career where he can support his self. I pray for my oldest son to be wise with his money. I pray for my granddaughter to be Happy and health always!! I pray for my sister situation. I pray for my Mother and protection around her always.
I pray that GOD will make Michael Scott Jackson the man he wants him to be in the midst of the enemy trying to stop him!
I’m trusting God for job and relationship situations.
I’m trusting God bringing back my son home . And healing my marriage.
Sharon, Thank you for your daily devotions enjoy reading them.
I also enjoy reading your books and doing the Study guides in the back of your books.
I always wished for more time in the day but I needed to just take time for God and that has brought me a lot closer to him.
My next one is Love Struck.
Thank you for all you do and God bless you,
Hello everyone… I am kinda new to all this and I’m reaching out for any resource i can possibly get for prayer! I am a single mom of two kids who are growing up faster than i care to admit, ages 12 and almost 10. I just started Nursing School and i am struggling to find time to make Nursing a priority!! I know I am doing this for us but it’s just so hard. As if that isnt enough, I had awful things happen to me by a man I of course trusted when I was a child. My Mother is still with him and i thought i forgave them both but obviously, I’m still hanging on to some of that bitterness. Please help me and join me in prayer for healing, strength and peace ladies!!! I’m so confused and feel like I’ve built this wall that I can’t tear down alone…
Sincerely,
Confused & Broken
Author
Praying for you today. Forgiveness is a decision that can happen all at once. But trust is something that is rebuilt over time. Don’t beat yourself up if you still have those feelings of mistrust.
Thank you for this encouraging word. I’m trusting God to restore my marriage, healing my husband and I and giving him a change of heart not just behavior, as well as to move to Texas and for the healing of my daughter’s teeth in Jesus name.
I’m in some extremely difficult situations at work & home. It’s Monday morning and I’m tearful when I think about going to work & the day I have ahead of me. I know He is with me & will be with me. I know He alone has brought me this far & will get me through today. ❤️