God will provide!!!

Philippians 4:19 - "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory."

It is so hard to believe that verse at times, especially when we're living in hard times economically as we are today. How can you believe that when you get handed a pink slip at work? How can you believe that when your spouse, who was the primary bread winner, drops dead suddenly at a young age? How can you believe that when the doctor says you have cancer, and it's aggressive, and it's at an advanced stage? How can you believe that when your mate of 20 years suddenly walks out on you for someone else? How can you? You can't in and of yourself!

I heard Dr. Jeff Laborg preach recently and he said, "It's ok to ask God why, just as long as you don't try and answer the question." I believe he was right. When we face hard times, trials and tribulation, it's ok to ask why. But wait on God for the answer, and trust Him that He's right all the time!

Sometimes the answer is that we have gotten away from God, and He's using it to draw us back to Him. Other times it isn't that we've gotten away from Him, but He is using it to bring about good for His glory, either in our own lives or the lives of others. What we must guard against is allowing a root of bitterness to take hold of us. So many believers are miserable because of bitterness. Someone did them wrong. Life was too hard. You prayed and asked God for something, and He chose not to answer it in the way you thought He should. Some people are bitter at everyone else because they're really bitter and offended at God. Things didn't turn out the way they thought they should, so bitterness has taken over. Has God really been so bad to you that you must blame Him and lash out at everyone else? If we're honest, we must say that God has been far better to us, and He's treated us far better than we've treated Him. We caused His only son to die for Pete's sake!

Anyway, what should be our resolve in difficult times? I believe we should be as Abraham when He was going to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, b/c God had told Him to. Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?" To which Abraham replied, "God will provide a lamb." And God did. God was simply testing Abraham's faith. Perhaps God is doing the same for you? Can you radically obey the Lord in faith as Abraham did, believing God to raise back up to you whatever it is you're being asked to give up? Can you be like Job who in the midst of losing everything did not sin nor blame God foolishly? We can't again in our strength but in God's supernatural strength we can do all things! Maybe our prayer should be, "Lord give me your perspective, and help me to trust you in the difficult times, and help me to believe you to do great things in my life."

The great preacher Manley Beasley used to ask his staff everyday, "What are you believing God for today?" What are you believing God for today? What need do you have that only He can supply? Give it to Him, and watch HIm work miracles! Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide!!!