Today I want to give you the rest of the story, as Paul Harvey used to say. So we’re sitting in the airport with standby tickets, faithfully trusting God to give us just what we need. Well, kind of? Again, faith-filled me, my eyes are glued to the magical monitor waiting for the Lord to expose my heart.
The plane started to load. Anyone who needed a little more time or assistance was invited to board. Mothers with infants or persons with handicaps could proceed onto the plane to take the time they needed to get situated. I thought, “Hey, I am faith-impaired, does that count?”
After a few minutes, our names popped up on the cleared list. We got seats! Though separated, we still had seats on the plane and could board when our zones were called. Martha was seated in zone 1, so she was able to go up after first class and medallion members boarded. She got in line and I still watched the board trying to figure out when Carole and I were up. The next thing that happened made the blood run out of my face. All of our seat assignments were removed from the cleared list. We no longer had seats! Martha was turned away at the gate and asked to go take a seat. Gah!
OK, here is where “what we needed” was being truly tested. “Oh, man of faith, do you trust God?” Well like I said, I was having my heart exposed. So the answer was no.
I continued to stare at the board, remember, like a gambler at the tracks . . . then the gate agent called us to the desk. This usually means one of two things: “Hey, we only have 2 seats, would you mind splitting your party up?” or “Here are your seat assignments.” She smiled at us and said, “Here are your boarding passes.” We all got seats!
When we got on the plane, we realized we received the very last 3 seats. Several other people would have to follow the magical board to the next flight. That flight wouldn’t take off for another 6 hours.
Okay, so here is what I learned. God is lavish in His approach and provision for those who are in His will. Now if we were called to the next flight, this would also be included in His amazing approach. He knows exactly what needs to transpire to bring about His plans. And the lavishness of His approach is how He handles every aspect of our lives. He is lavish in joy, in love, in time, in patience, in grace, in wisdom, and yes, lavish in provision. When we cast our cares upon Him, He is freed to supply exactly and precisely what is needed. My grasping has never worked anyway. His supply is not limited to my understanding nor hemmed in by it either. God assures me that He will supply full-to-overflowing what is needed to remain in His will. In Christ’s life is God’s supply. Yes, when I am in the Life of Christ, all that His Life requires is amply provided. In this, my faith can rest.
He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Hebrews 13:5b AMP
Great testimony and post John! I AM is a great Father, so intimate and faithful. ‘High as a mountain, deep as an ocean… Is Gods love and devotion… To His children’.
Thank you John.
What a great post! I love your use of the word “lavish”, it is so precise. Being faith-impaired made me laugh out loud – it is so descriptive. This, however, is the part that made joy rise within me: “His supply is not limited to my understanding nor hemmed in by it either.”, as I am always grasping for understanding. Thanks once again for your sharing heart.
That we would have ears to hear, eyes to see his lavish provision moment by moment.