God's Provision

I've been thinking a lot lately about God's provision.  In so many ways we take it for granted.  We get so fixated on what we don't have, that we overlook what God has provided.  To use a biblical illustration, we get so fixated on the fact that we're about to sacrifice Isaac, that we may lose sight of the lamb that's been provided. 

It's been a rough few weeks.  My son's car, which he's only had for a few months, dropped the transmission.  It may not be worth fixing.  We've been running around trying to get him to work, working around our other schedules, etc.  It's been a frustration. 

But then, we do have the other vehicles to get him there.  He does have a job.  I still have a job.  We may not be able to afford to fix his car even if it's deemed "worth it" but we still have food on the table, a roof over our heads, etc.  Because our God provides. 

Awhile back I started having worse than usual problems with my eyesight.  I've to -10.00 power in one eye and -7.50 in the other.  Pretty bad and I've always had trouble getting them to focus together, but this was even worse.  Things are getting "warped" in the one eye.  Turns out I have a degenerative condition that causes swelling and bleeding on the retina and damages the macula.  I'll be going in for a dye test to track the bleeding and then considering if an injection therapy will help, or if I'll just have to learn to live with the diminished vision.  Waa, waa, poor me. 

Even though my reading is affected, I have access to my computer where I can change font sizes, along with my Kindle which does the same.  This helps some, and what a blessing to live in a day where I have that technology.  And even if it does get worse, I can pick up audio books, and there are all sorts of other techonologies available.  At least I know how to read, have access to books, etc.  How many don't?  How many never have?  I still have breath in my lungs, and a mouth to speak God's Word, and an opportunity to do so.  Because God provides. 

We can be tempted to focus on the negative, look at the demands God makes of us, emphasize the "sacrifices" we make; and lose sight of God's gracious provision in all things.  I pray my eyes are always on Him (pardon the personal pun), and that I will always be reminded of the provision.  Especially the provision He has made in Christ.  Because above all, in spite of anything and everything else, we have Christ, I have salvation in Him, I have the promise of eternal life. What an amazing God we serve!  What a grand provision beyond anything we deserve, anything we could ever hope for.  

Another of God's grand provisions in my life, is music.  It has always been such a big part of my life, and I've been blessed to be able to collect quite a few old hymnals containing some amazing words of praise and instruction.  I just came across these words from an old 1833 volume, taken from one of Isaac Watts' old collections that speaks to this whole issue of God's provision and our need to trust in that, to trust in Christ above all.  I hope you are encouraged. 

Keep silence, all created things,
And wait your Maker’s nod!
My soul stands trembling while she sings
The honors of her God.

Life, death, and hell, and worlds unknown
Hang on His firm decree;
He sits on no precarious throne,
No borrows leave to be.

His providence unfolds the book,
And makes His counsels shine;
Each opening leaf, and every stroke
Fulfills some deep design.

My God, I would not long to see
My fate with curious eyes,
What gloomy lines are writ for me,
Or what bright scenes may rise.

In Thy fair book of life and grace,
O may I find my name
Recorded in some humble place,
Beneath my Lord the Lamb!