Jehovah Jireh – Trusting God’s Supernatural Power
Adversity is always unexpected and unwelcome. It is an intruder and a thief. But in the hands of God, adversity becomes the means through which His Supernatural Power is demonstrated.
Charles Stanley
The book, The Insanity of God, recounts stories of Russian Christians who went through tremendous suffering and hardship during the communist era. One of the stories told is that of a pastor’s family. The pastor was arrested for preaching the gospel and sentenced to hard labour in a camp in a remote part of Russia. His wife and three children were sent to Siberia to fend for themselves. One cold winter's night, after the family ate their last crust of bread and drank their last cup of tea, they knelt to pray. One of the children asked, "How are we going to get more food, Mamma?" We’re hungry! Do you think papa even knows where we live now?” Their mother assured them their heavenly Father knew where they lived. For now, He was the one who would have to provide. They prayed and asked for God’s provision.
Thirty kilometres away, in the middle of the night, God woke up the deacon of the church and instructed him, “Get out of bed, load up the extra vegetables and food that the church has collected and take it to the pastor’s family living outside the village. They are hungry!” The deacon said, “But Lord, I can’t do that! It’s below zero outside. My horse might freeze, and I might freeze!” The Holy Spirit told him, “You must go! The pastor’s family is in trouble! “The man argued, “Lord, you’ve got to know that here are wolves everywhere. I’ll never make it back.” But the deacon said that the Holy Spirit told him, “You don’t have to come back. You just have to go. So he did. The next morning, he arrived safely at the cabin. The family were amazed and overjoyed when the deacon handed them a huge sack and announced, “Our church collected this food for you. Be fed. When this runs out, I’ll bring more.”
Fear Not, I am the One Who Helps You
The imprisoned pastor’s family found themselves in a place of desperation. They had no one to turn to except God. God had sustained them thus far, and they trusted Him in that desolate place to continue to do so. They did not know how God would supply their needs in what seemed an impossible situation, but they trusted that He would. We all face impossible situations in life that overwhelm us - financial or material lack, health issues, the loss of a loved one, dysfunctional relationships, or emotional and mental brokenness. As followers of Jesus, we do not have to fear because we know we can trust Him to help us. We can take Him at His Word when He says, “’For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you’” Isaiah 41:13 (ESV).
Reflection
Do you find yourself in a place of desperation where you need God to provide for your needs? I would like to invite you to trust our God of miracles to come through for you.
Prayer
Lord, I thank You that You are my Provider. I give all my needs to You. Help me not to fear, but to trust You. Help me to trust that You know exactly how to meet these challenges I’m facing in Your miraculous way. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
