Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day!
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I wouldn’t say that I am an overly needed person.
Yeah, I “need” basic things like food, water, shelter, clothing (because trust me– nobody wants to see otherwise) but for the most part, I am pretty simple.
Although, I have to admit– I need other things in life– not physical needs, but heart needs.
And fortunately, Jesus in my everyday supplies what I need. He delivers– physically, spiritually, emotionally, the whole shebang.
A few months ago, my spirit was frenzied. I had been striving hard in 2014 for some really intense goals and constantly wrestling with the balance of, well, everything. (This was before God revealed to me my dire need for REST.)
I always felt stretched to the max. I was snappy with my husband. I was easily frustrated with my daughter. I was constantly under spiritual attack.
I had lost sight of the fact that God created me as a human being… not a human doing.
So right before I hit my breaking point, I took a walk for some much-needed unrushed time with the Lord.
It was an overcast, moderately chilly day here in the Pacific Northwest– very typical. I walked the half mile down the road to American Lake. I chatted with the Lord, crying out that I was exhausted and really needed some direction.
Suddenly, the tiny life adjustment revelations started coming. I frantically searched my coat pockets for something to write with so I didn’t have to spend my brain power trying to memorize what he was saying.
All I found was a penny and a disintegrated Kleenex. Not helpful.
I found myself praying, “Lord, please give me a way to remember what you are telling me to change in my life. I don’t trust my weary brain to hold tight to the information you are sharing.”
I continued to walk and found myself looking at the ground between a huge playground and the edge of the wooded picnic area. Something caught my eye.
It was a small green marker. I picked it up, assuming it was all dried out and worthless– but it was perfect. Nearly brand new and substantially still inky.
If only I had something to write on…
I walked a few more steps and wouldn’t you know it? The remnants of a deck of cards.
I had all the paper I needed.
My heart sang as I jotted down some bullet point notes, simple yet profound changes to make to my schedule and my heart-focus.
And I was able to remember them with no problem, because God had literally provided pen and paper for me, right there by American Lake on a breezy day in Washington.
Now, several months later, that moment still makes my heart swell. And although I am not currently in search of note-taking supplies, my needs are still here– just different.
As I write this, I am mere hours from saying yet another sayonara to my Beloved army husband for a season. By the time this publishes, he will be long gone to Georgia and (hopefully) progressing swiftly through Ranger school.
If you have been around for a while, you might recall that three years ago, we attempted Ranger school. It was right after we discovered we were pregnant with our first child. I was overcome with anxiety and loneliness.
A couple of weeks after Brandon left, my greatest fear came true: I miscarried. I was alone. Scared. Brokenhearted.
Upon hearing of our loss several days later (when we were finally able to communicate,) Brandon dropped the course and came home to be with me. I was forever grateful and that experience has been an incredible testimony to God’s faithfulness and well as a powerful point of ministry for others.
Now, he is off again. This time though– God is calling us to this and we are at peace. I prayed about a scripture verse to focus on in his absence since our communication will be zilch (seriously– zippo phone or Facetime– snail mail letters only, mostly from my end because Barn will have minimal time.) God flashed back to my walk by American Lake and placed Philippians 4:19 NLT on my heart:
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
God will supply ALL my needs. My need for companionship. My need for rest. For peace. For stamina to rock this solo-parenting gig.
The key is for us to be receptive. We must actively and intentionally open our hands and hearts to receive whatever God is giving us to fill our needs… And trust Him that He knows EXACTLY what we need, when we need it.
Do I miss my husband? Absolutely. Am I counting the days until we are reunited. Of course. But I am resting on the truth that while Brandon was clearly hand-picked by the Lord above, he is not my God. God is. And whatever needs Brandon fills when he is available, God is taking care of that for this season.
Of this, I am confident.
What areas of life do you need God to fulfill today? What steps can you take to be receptive? Leave a comment below.
Take heart, my dear friend. Know that when Jesus is in our everyday, He WILL supply ALL of our needs– because just like the marker and deck of cards in the park… God delivers.
Every. Single. Time.
My help comes from the Lord,
“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. ” ~Philippians 4:19 MSG
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