God Provides

A line from one of my favorite hymns, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” has been running through my mind lately: “Morning by morning new mercies I see/All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. . .” I affirm to myself that God provides all that I need, with new mercies every morning. 

I believe the truth of the lyrics, even as I remind myself of God’s faithfulness and provision while my husband looks for a new church position. With him being ordained in the Church of England, we’re greatly affected as a family by this job change—our family home is provided for by the church, so a new position for him means a different vicarage and a new setting for all of us. 

The Good Shepherd

It might feel odd to write about God’s provision when I don’t know yet where we will land, but I’m learning so much in this in-between time through experiencing God’s day-by-day mercies. He gives us manna for the day, as the Israelites experienced. The “food” from God this morning, for instance, came through a friend saying that she was praying Psalm 23:3 for me: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” As I received her encouragement, I soaked in the goodness of the image of God as my Shepherd, leading us wandering sheep in the right path, all for His glory and praise. I think of the love of the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:15). I know I can follow Him where He leads. 

And I also look to later in that beloved psalm, holding on to the truth of David’s lyrics: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v. 6). The theme of new mercies echoes in these words, the promise of God’s goodness filling me each and every day of my life. Although I don’t yet know the destination for our next place to live and serve, I trust and believe that the Good Shepherd leads, guides, and provides. And that I will dwell in His house forever.

Bread from Heaven

As well as Psalm 23, the image of God’s love for His people as they wandered in the desert has brought me much encouragement during this time of uncertainty. I might be tempted to join the Israelites in grumbling as they wandered, as they looked to the past longingly (see Exodus 16:2–3). But I take courage in how God answered them with mercy and love: “I will rain down bread from heaven for you” (v. 4). God gave His people bread in the morning and meat in the evening—all they needed to survive in even those harsh conditions. 

And the Lord kept loving them, even when they murmured against Him. As Moses explained to the people: “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him” (v. 8). How merciful of God to provide “thin flakes like frost on the ground” (v. 14) that tasted sweet, like honey and coriander (v. 31). Even if His people weren’t grateful.

God gives me new mercies each day, whether through a friend highlighting a verse from Scripture or the wisdom and direction my husband receives from God as he takes the next step in the discernment process. Like the Israelites, we don’t have the full Promised Land in view yet, but we trust the One who lights the way as a pillar of fire at night or the cloud of light during the day (see Exodus 13:21). We believe and trust that God provides.

An Invitation

In what areas of your life are you trusting in God today? How do you need Him to provide you with daily food for nourishment and encouragement? As you ponder how to answer those questions, I invite you to spend some time in Psalm 23. You might want to personalize it according to your needs, which is a prayer practice I like to engage with often. For instance, I might write, “The Lord is my Provider, I lack nothing. He gives me rest in lush green pastures, He leads me beside restorative waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me and my family along the right paths for His name’s sake. . .”

How might the Lord provide for you? What new mercies have you glimpsed this morning?

—Written by Amy Boucher Pye. Used by permission from the author. Click here to connect with Amy.