Trust

Why is it so much easier to trust God with our eternity than with our simple, day-to-day needs? You know it's true though. We give God the trust He requires to take our souls once we die, but we shy away from the thought that we should trust Him with finances, food, shelter, relationships, and other material needs. It's almost like we don't think He is big enough for them or something.

In the book Out of the Black Shadows by Stephen Lungu there are many stories of trust. Something Stephen's friend and teacher Johann found great importance in teaching was this idea of trusting God with all of one's needs. He even took it to the extent that he wouldn't tell someone when he was in need of something. Being a missionary in Africa there were many times when he was in need, but still he trusted God rather than asking for help.

Stephen was taught to do the same. There was a time he needed soap. He went to Johann to ask for more, but he was informed that there was no money and he would just have to pray to God for soap. This was Stephen's first experience with Johann's "trust God for everything" policy. And he wasn't sure he liked it. But, since Johann wouldn't get him soap he set to praying for it. He prayed all day for soap. The next day a neighbor came by and dropped off a bag of groceries. They said the had been to town and thought that the mission could use a gift. Stephen took the bag and, once the neighbor left, hurriedly took out every item until he saw at the bottom not one, but two bars of soap.

He was ecstatic. He could hardly believe that God had cared to provide soap. It was such a little thing, but God still bothered to take care of it. It had to be God. He hadn't told anyone that he needed it.

Later on he had an important letter to mail, but he had no stamps. Again he went to Johann to ask for stamps, and again Johann said that he needed to pray to God and trust him for the stamps because there were none in the mission. So Stephen prayed for stamps. I think this time he prayed for a few days. One day a friend came over to visit Johann. As he was leaving he asked to speak to Stephen and handed him a white envelope along with his greeting before he left. Inside the envelope was not a stamp, but instead a banknote--one that was said to be more than enough for thousands of stamps.

Once again Stephen was in need. He needed shoes. His had worn through, and again the mission could not provide him new ones. A rich young man came to visit and took Stephen with him as a guide in town. When they got there the young man asked Stephen what they were shopping for. Stephen looked at him, confused. The man explained that he wanted to buy Stephen something, but he wasn't sure what he needed. Again, Stephen had been praying (this time for weeks, if I remember) for God's provision, and again God came through and provided. He provided what was needed and He gave in excess. Stephen came home with a pair of shoes, two shirts, and a pair of trousers.

Have you seen God's provision? I think that a lot of times we cheat God out of the opportunity to do things like this because we are so quick to pronounce our need, and so hesitant to wait for Him. It's likely many of us haven't seen this provision, but it isn't because God hasn't been providing. If you are alive, God has provided.

Challenge to you: Give God the opportunity to show Himself to you in this way throughout the next month. I assure you, if you open your eyes to it you will not be disappointed. It will show up like those pennies I talked about--everywhere--as a testament to the providence of our Awesome God.