The Lord doesn’t just provide. He doesn’t just gift. He enables us to see why we need the gifts we receive.
Consider the child with wet feet. She sure appreciates the snow boots when she gets them. If her feet were never wet, she would never value the boots. With them on however, she cheers a delighted, “Thank you!”
In Exodus 16, which is the upcoming lectionary text about manna and quail from heaven, we learn that God wants us to depend on Him. Just as importantly, we are reminded that God always provides exactly what we need. As we reflect on the times when we have literally and metaphorically had cold, wet feet, consider how God allows our moans and groans to resonate not with Him but with us. He allows this so that we can timelessly experience this truth: God always provides not by our merit but His mercy.
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This upcoming benefit for the Stout family on Saturday, September 19th, speaks to God’s mercy AND His moving people. God is calling His people to this benefit in great number with great contributions. This is outstanding! Our church and our wider community are responding to this benefit as one because God always provides. God always gifts. God always draws us toward each other in the name of love, specifically, His perfect, merciful love.