Howdy, Church Family! Today marks the beginning of May, and I actually just wrapped up my last college assignment ever. It’s a great feeling, but a new type of anxiousness has set in as this chapter closes with another opening in front of me.
I touched on this during my communion meditation last Sunday, but I have struggled recently with putting my full trust in the Lord’s provisions. It doesn’t make much sense for that to happen now considering how often I’ve barely scraped by (especially during my time in Indianapolis). If God always showed up time and time again, why is it now that anxiousness is setting in?
The most important passage to me in this time has been John 14, in the middle of Christ’s Farewell Discourse with the disciples. He tells them in verse 13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (NIV). This piece of scripture is wonderful in how it gives us confidence that the Lord will give us exactly what we need. However, this pair of verses becomes dangerous if we leave out verse 27 of the same chapter: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
We live in a world where loving your kids means giving them exactly what they want, when they want it. We live in a world where love means affirming any behavior, so long as it doesn’t affect anyone else. The Lord loves us dearly, but the way He does so is completely different than how the world defines it! Rather than shielding us from every instance of pain, He gives us peace when troubles come. Instead of affirming every habit and behavior, He corrects and convicts us through the Holy Spirit.
In the same way, the Lord is certainly going to meet our needs, so we can’t confuse our needs with our wants or else we might become discontent! We see in human nature that our desire often grows with financial blessing, and that is exactly what I’ve been experiencing. They are not malicious desires; a humble home to start a family, a car that’s more reliable, high quality groceries, etc. Nonetheless, God will provide exactly what I need, when I need it, and in the meantime, He offers His peace up to us. May we all offer up our trust to the Lord today, Church; He knows best.
In Him,
Peyton