Grace of Provision
August Jernberg [Public domain]
~ Lailah Gifty Akita ~
When we hear the word "provision" what comes to mind? Are there visions of a pantry stocked to overflowing; what about a table heaped with delicacies; or, perhaps grocery bags filled with the necessities need for the week ahead?
The word "provision" comes from Latin and literally means "a foreseeing, foresight, preparation, prevention."
The Grace of Provision is, for me, the ability to trust that what is needed will be there when the time comes. Grace, remember, is God's blessing. So, Grace of Provision is the blessing that the Divine foresees our needs and provides what we need, when we need it.
Throughout my life, I have experienced this type of Grace. I learned early on that if I do what I am called to do, Creator supplies the rest. The serendipity of this Grace can be so profound that it often seems inconceivable. Some pass this off as coincidence, others see it as fate, and still others just think it happened and there is no connection.
But in my life, this has been a reoccurring theme. Let me share a story.
As a young mother, there were several months in which all the major appliances needed to provide for my family failed at the same time. Our dishwasher died, the stove stopped, and the washing machine spun its last load. I had four little ones, Thanksgiving was coming and all the money we had was ear-marked for the taxes that would be due the first of December. What was I to do?
Well, first I cried for a bit...really! I was so upset. But then, my little voice said, "Pray!" And so, as I washed my dishes by hand while cooking dinner in a small toaster oven and soaking diapers in the bathtub, I prayed that this burden would be lifted. My prayers were answered in a series of events that friends still shake their heads at today.
First, we found a dishwasher at Sears, by accident, in the scratched and damaged store for only $100. The machine was perfectly functional - brand new, in fact! The only thing wrong was a huge scratch down the side that no one would ever see because it was an under the counter model.
The next day, my father called, not knowing that I needed anything, to ask if I could use a new washing machine. My aunt was moving and didn't need the new machine she had just bought three months ago.
The evening the new machine was put in place, we had company. Our friends commented on our tiny toaster oven. They asked why I was cooking in it. When I explained that our stove had died, they looked at each other, asking, "Do you want a stove? We have one. We just converted to gas, so we have a perfectly good electric stove."
Over tea the next morning, I was sharing the story of my blessings with my neighbor. She just shook her head in amazement, then, with a devilish grin said, "Ya, but I bet it won't match your other appliances." (This was during that period when appliances were gold and avocado.) I just smiled and said, "We'll see." (Style or color were the least of my worries, I simply needed a stove that worked!)
That afternoon, the men arrived with the stove. They removed the old one and installed the new one, which, low and behold, perfectly matched the rest of the appliances. I stood by praying aloud, "Thank you, God!"
This is simply one story in many that I could share about the Grace of Provision. The point is, that when we let go of the fear that we will not have what we need, when we simply do what we can with what we have, God provides for our needs.
May we focus on doing what we are called to do. May we trust that what we need will be there when we need it. May we see that the Grace of Provision is part of all our lives.
Blessings!
The word "provision" comes from Latin and literally means "a foreseeing, foresight, preparation, prevention."
The Grace of Provision is, for me, the ability to trust that what is needed will be there when the time comes. Grace, remember, is God's blessing. So, Grace of Provision is the blessing that the Divine foresees our needs and provides what we need, when we need it.
Throughout my life, I have experienced this type of Grace. I learned early on that if I do what I am called to do, Creator supplies the rest. The serendipity of this Grace can be so profound that it often seems inconceivable. Some pass this off as coincidence, others see it as fate, and still others just think it happened and there is no connection.
But in my life, this has been a reoccurring theme. Let me share a story.
As a young mother, there were several months in which all the major appliances needed to provide for my family failed at the same time. Our dishwasher died, the stove stopped, and the washing machine spun its last load. I had four little ones, Thanksgiving was coming and all the money we had was ear-marked for the taxes that would be due the first of December. What was I to do?
Well, first I cried for a bit...really! I was so upset. But then, my little voice said, "Pray!" And so, as I washed my dishes by hand while cooking dinner in a small toaster oven and soaking diapers in the bathtub, I prayed that this burden would be lifted. My prayers were answered in a series of events that friends still shake their heads at today.
First, we found a dishwasher at Sears, by accident, in the scratched and damaged store for only $100. The machine was perfectly functional - brand new, in fact! The only thing wrong was a huge scratch down the side that no one would ever see because it was an under the counter model.
The next day, my father called, not knowing that I needed anything, to ask if I could use a new washing machine. My aunt was moving and didn't need the new machine she had just bought three months ago.
The evening the new machine was put in place, we had company. Our friends commented on our tiny toaster oven. They asked why I was cooking in it. When I explained that our stove had died, they looked at each other, asking, "Do you want a stove? We have one. We just converted to gas, so we have a perfectly good electric stove."
Over tea the next morning, I was sharing the story of my blessings with my neighbor. She just shook her head in amazement, then, with a devilish grin said, "Ya, but I bet it won't match your other appliances." (This was during that period when appliances were gold and avocado.) I just smiled and said, "We'll see." (Style or color were the least of my worries, I simply needed a stove that worked!)
That afternoon, the men arrived with the stove. They removed the old one and installed the new one, which, low and behold, perfectly matched the rest of the appliances. I stood by praying aloud, "Thank you, God!"
This is simply one story in many that I could share about the Grace of Provision. The point is, that when we let go of the fear that we will not have what we need, when we simply do what we can with what we have, God provides for our needs.
~~~
May we focus on doing what we are called to do. May we trust that what we need will be there when we need it. May we see that the Grace of Provision is part of all our lives.
Blessings!
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