Trusting God’s Provision During Anxious Times
From 1 Kings 17 there are three instances where God’s provision runs out and the character is blessed with the gift and challenge of trusting God’s provision again.
First, Elijah stays by a stream and God sends food through ravens (the 900-700 BCE version of UberEats or DoorDash). God has provided but it’s a drought and eventually the stream runs dry. What will God do next?
Second, God sends Elijah to Zarephath where he will be fed by a widow. She obliges even though she only has a little flour and a little oil. She’s making one last pancake for herself and son so they can eat it and then die (drought usually led to famine, famine was even harder on widows who had no one to take care of them). Yet God provides and the flour and oil do not run out “until it rains again.” God’s provision will last at least until the rain returns. What will happen then? Well, the widow will get to trust God to provide again.
Third, the widow’s son dies. Goodness, as if she didn’t have it tough enough. What will God do next? God raises the child back to life.
These might be anxious times for you (I know they are for me). Like each of these three instances we can only see so far ahead. We believe that God provides for us but it seems God provides just enough to get us to the next step. What will happen once we take that next step? Well, we have the gift and challenge of trusting God to provide again… and again… and again. One step, one day, one pancake, one drink of water at a time.
Easier said than done? It’s no secret that anxiety has increased among us during this coronavirus pandemic. Do you, like me, need help taking each month one day at a time, each day one breath at a time? Well even the CDC is chiming in with these helpful tips[1]:
Know what to do if you are sick and are concerned about COVID-19.
Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
Take care of your emotional health. https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/selfcare.asp
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
Take care of your body.
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate
Avoid excessive alcohol and drug use
Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling
Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures are in place, consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail
And please remember, “When circumstances are desperate, as streams dry up, as bread is running out, and even as we take our last breath, God promises to meet us there and provide yet again.”[2]
In Christ,
Pr. Brandon (PB)
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
[2] Pr. Brandon’s mediocre Sunday sermon, November 1, 2020