God's Provision

11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2: 10-11

Reading this familiar passage this year makes me think of God’s provision. He always knows exactly what we need and He provides it at the precise and perfect time. 

The Wise Men were sent by God to Jesus’ earthly home just in the nick of time. They came bearing gifts that would sustain and support the young family as they escaped to a new land and stayed there for a while,

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. Matthew 2: 13-15

The treasures presented by the Magi provided the resources needed for Mary and Joseph to escape and survive in Egypt with their precious son. Everything happened as it should have. All the detours of the Wise Men, the star-guided path, the stop at Herod’s palace, it was all part of the divine plan - 

And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Our Father knows what we need and He provides it right when we need it. Of course, sometimes it may seem to our finite eyes and understanding that things are all wrong and that the plan is falling apart. Our Most High, however, has it all under control at all times. The problem is that He is the only one who has seen the totality of what is to happen. He is the only one who has already been there and is watching it as if on replay. For us, as we are going through it, it seems messed up, fraying at the seams and, quite rightly sometimes, plain scary. 

The fact that some of our plans include uncomfortable and maybe even painful and frightening details doesn’t mean that the plan is flawed. Not at all. The plan is still perfect even in the midst of confusion and hard times. It is all part of it. And even though it may be difficult, we need to continue to be “confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1: 6) And we are confident also because He promised,

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

In this era of financial instability, natural disasters, health care issues, illness, loss, hardship and confusion, do you have a hard time trusting God’s provision? Do you have a hard time trusting his plan for you?

Linking with: Monday Musings