Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
and cometh down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
F.B. Meyer once said, “The education of our faith is incomplete till we learn that God’s providence works through loss…that there’s a ministry to us through the failure and fading of things. The dwindling brook where Elijah sat is a picture of our lives. ‘Some time later the brook dried up’ (1 Kings 17:7) is the history of our yesterdays and a prophecy of our tomorrows…learn the difference between trusting in the gift and trusting in the Giver. The gift may last for a season but the Giver is eternal. If the Lord had led Elijah directly to the widow at Zarephath, he’d have missed something that helped make him a better man – living by faith. Whenever our earthly resources dry up it’s so we may learn that our hope and help are in God.”
When we first set off to go to seminary, committed to following God’s plans and purposes for our lives, no matter what the cost, Sharon and I honestly didn’t know how we were going to survive financially. All we knew was that if this was what the Lord wanted us to do, He would make a way. He did not disappoint. In those first few weeks, we saw the faithfulness of God as He provided in the most miraculous ways.
That was the season in which we learned how God truly provides for His saints.
Over the years, we’ve had to take huge steps of faith which seemed impractical and illogical through earthly eyes – but we took those leaps, and God has always provided – often at the very last minute! But early on we learned this: if it’s the Lord’s will – it’s the Lord’s bill!
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