God Will Supply

God will supply our needs according to His riches.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

God continues to show me how He is my treasure. This month, my focus was on how He supplies my needs.

Dental Example

I recently had to have a tooth pulled. It was going to cost over $800 to see the surgeon. When I went in for my fillings, the dentist noticed I was upset, and I told her my concern was for financially covering all the dental work my son and I needed. She had compassion and gave me the option for her to do the extraction herself, with a price under $200!

I’ve never had surgery, but from what I understand, it is taxing. Since I got the extraction without surgery, recovery was easier. I was supposed to rest, and I was not supposed to talk. I was supposed to keep ice on my cheek to reduce swelling. 

I did not rest. I went to my son’s band concert and went to work the next day. The swelling did not last beyond the band concert. I had a little pain while I was teaching Spanish, and some pain at the end of the school day. I’ve been taking ibuprofen, and the pain is manageable, although persistent. It’s now been over two weeks, and I'm still sore.

In spite of the pain, I experienced several blessings from this. The timing for everything worked out, and with my busy schedule, that’s a miracle in itself. I was able to go to the dentist on a morning I wasn’t needed at school, and leave early another day for the extraction and for pain a few days later. Then I was able to go to a follow-up appointment a week later in the morning. Also, I wasn’t able to play my clarinet for 10 days, which freed up some time. In addition, I was able to get the hardest of the healing done before my trip to visit my daughter. And finally, as I mentioned, it was much more manageable financially. In fact, when I went to pay for it, I had a credit on my account that covered most of it. Not only that, but when my son gets his wisdom teeth pulled, I’ll know how to help him.

There’s still some bleeding, which is concerning, but it shifts my brain into “pray continually” mode as I give it to God. I would also appreciate your prayers, as I feel some anxiety about this creeping along my shoulders.

This whole tooth situation was one example of how God showed me the meaning of the verse that has been my focus for the month: 

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:19

It’s not fun to have a tooth extracted, but it’s always amazing to see what God does to provide.

Car Accident Example

Another example of God’s provision was when my son Josiah got into a car accident. It wasn’t really his fault—he said he swerved to avoid a car coming into his lane—but he crashed into a barrier and totaled his car. He was fine, and the car had not been in great condition to begin with. His sister helped financially, his dad helped haggle, and he walked away with a sweet new car.

Perspective

God has shown me time and time again that he provides. He’s also shown me that it’s a matter of perspective on how you look at it. A tooth extraction and a car accident don’t sound like blessings when you hear them, but look beyond the surface. Find the blessings. They are there. 

Sometimes God allows us to go through things so that we’ll learn how to help others—I’ll be able to help Titus when he gets teeth pulled. Sometimes the blessings come from seeing others help us—my son getting help from his dad and his sister.

Contentment

So we know that God provides. The challenge comes in how we deal with the struggle and the wait for His provision. Some of us, knowing that He will provide, can remain content with our situation.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:11-13

Some Christians have learned to be content in any situation. They are the ones we want to go to for help and advice, because they always have a smile and an encouraging word. When they struggle with things the world throws at them, they say, “Praise God,” “God is good,” or “I’m blessed.”

God will supply our needs. We need to remain content. Remaining content in the face of a struggle is one way to find “hidden treasure.” 

To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not. ~Akhenaton

Contentment looks at what we have and determines that it is enough. And it will always be enough, because God is supplying what we need. So anything other than that is not a need, but a want. 

We always seem to want the riches of this world, don’t we? And yet the riches of this world do not bring us joy. They bring us anxiety. When you have money, you tend to spend it on things that are frivolous. Then you don’t have enough for an emergency. When you have less, those decisions are taken from you because you can’t afford them. When you have less, you learn to save and be frugal.

We’re told to be content for a reason. Not just because it’s wise. Not just because God says to, and not just because we’ll manage money better. If we have given our lives to God, he has placed us in a certain position in life, and he is working in our lives to show us the riches in Christ Jesus. He is working to show us that He supplies. He is showing us that He is the one we trust for ALL that we need.

Riches Can Be Stolen

Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you. ~Oscar Wilde

Not only do the riches of this world increase our cares, but they can be stolen. They can break. They can be corrupted. 

The riches of our mind and soul, including the riches given to us by Jesus, are treasures that cannot be taken from us, broken, or corrupted. For example, salvation, wisdom, peace, and contentment.

Challenge

Life is hard, and it’s not easy to remain content in every state. But when we learn how to do that, we see the blessings in the suffering. We can find treasure in ourselves and through Jesus.

Do you trust God? If you do, do you trust Him to provide? If you do, are you content with what He provides and in the timing of His provision?

More Stuff

I would love your support. Find me on social media (via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok (@realizeblessings), or YouTube) and share my stuff. I posted two Bible thought videos: “What does God’s glory look like?” and “Are you a golden-calf or golden-tabernacle investor?”

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