In November 1984 a terrible recession hit and I was laid off work the week before Thanksgiving. For months I diligently looked for work but couldn’t find a job. Subsequently, we lost our house and filed bankruptcy. Needless to say, this was devastating.
At this time my youngest son, Jason, was in Kindergarten and one morning as he was getting ready for school, I realized he needed lunch money. After scrounging through my purse, I had just enough change to buy him lunch for one more day. After he left, I discovered that I had only three diapers for Jeremy, our two year old, and just enough food for his lunch, and milk and cereal for breakfast. We had absolutely no money.
Anyone who’s been through financial struggles knows the pressure it puts on a family. I was desperate for an answer to our situation, so when I put Jeremy down for his nap, I went into our bedroom and fell on my face before God and started praying and crying (more like screaming) to Him. "Oh God, I need your help!! What are we going to do?! We don’t have any money, we have no groceries. What are we going to do?!"
It was at that moment I literally heard the most comforting, soothing male voice I have ever heard. It was so real I stopped and looked up expecting to see someone. He gently said, "Remember, ‘My God will supply your need according to His glorious riches by Christ Jesus.’" Then thinking about our situation, sarcastically, I replied, "Oh yeah? Big deal. I don’t see anything happ’n here!" Then to my spirit came the sweetest reply. "No. You don’t understand. What do you need? Do you need more grace? More strength? What is your need?" This response wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.
Nonetheless, what do you say to that? Nothing. But a peace came over me I can’t explain, and I got up and went about my day never thinking about the situation again. Amazingly, by five o’clock that night three different people had given us a total of five hundred dollars. I spent every dime on groceries, rejoicing as I pushed the cart! That was my first true experience of my Father’s provision.
Now I know what you must be thinking about my reply, and I’m probably the only one that will admit that I’ve said those things – especially to God! But at times like these, that sure is how it feels. Many years have passed and I have grown significantly in Christ and as a result have experienced even greater things thru Him. I am also fully persuaded He truly knows our needs and understands whatever we go through.
Beloved, He is touched with our infirmities and at our greatest time of trials, He defends, protects, delivers, and comforts. Remember, His Word will not return to Him void. He will always do what He promised. The only weapon Satan has is the fear that what God has said will not come to pass—you’ll die of cancer, you can’t pay your bills, you’ll get laid off, your kids will run with the wrong crowd. The greatest weapons we have are the blood of Jesus and His Word.
Don’t listen to what you see; listen to God’s promises and boldly proclaim them! Don’t believe what you feel; believe what you don’t feel and act in faith. When you do this, you honor God for to honor Him is to allow God’s words to carry more weight than the opinion of others and the circumstances around you. We can’t obey God when it’s convenient or doesn’t cost us something because this doesn’t honor Him.
So be encouraged! As we continue to read His Word we will be reminded He truly does supply our every need and that He is the great I AM–He will be what you need Him to be when you need Him to be it!
Copyright 2005 by Terri Arnett
