ROBIN STEVENS|GUEST

“Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).

My kids love for me to tell the story about the time I stole another girl’s lunch money in 4th grade. They’ve heard it many times, but never fail to ask, “Why, mom? What made you want to take her money?” The truth is, I don’t even know! I remember her showing the whole class her new wallet. I remember the teacher sending us all to the bathroom right before lunch to wash our hands. I remember coming back and passing the girl’s desk, where her wallet was sitting on the corner. And I remember the urge to steal it coming over me, so I quickly slipped it into my pocket. I didn’t need this girl’s money; my parents gave me my own lunch money every day. And even though I no longer feel the urge to steal anyone’s money, I do feel the urge to look around me at what others have and want them for myself, despite the fact that God has never once withheld any need from my life.

God’s Gracious Provision

When I was growing up, my parents made sure we had everything we needed and more, even though we lived on a teacher’s and a secretary’s salaries. When I graduated from high school, I received a gift that enabled me to attend college at almost no cost. When my husband and I decided to get married in three months’ time, I was able to find everything we needed for the wedding without any compromises. When my husband went to graduate school and we had two very small children, we were able to pay for his classes and still have me stay home with the kids thanks to some money willed to us by a family member. When my husband broke his leg and was wheelchair bound for eight weeks, friends and family came out of the woodwork to help us. And when we discovered our home had been eaten up by termites, we were able to pay for all the damage to be repaired, thanks to the generosity of a friend. I could go on and on, citing numerous ways God has provided for us over the years from “We have some leftover pizzas; would your family like to take a couple home?” to “I know you’re without a vehicle right now. We don’t need this van anymore; take it for a very small fee.”  The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Ps. 126:3).

And yet, I still grumble. I wonder why my house doesn’t look like hers. I wonder why they can have a nice car, but ours is 14 years old. I wonder what my life would look like if my husband were an extrovert like her husband is. I wonder why her children seem to be perfect angels while mine can’t go five minutes without harsh words or arguments. Lord, why don’t my friends struggle with weight like I do? Comparison really is the thief of joy.

This discontent, these what-ifs are telling, not of all the ways the Lord is withholding good from me, but of the state of my heart. Jesus reminded His disciples in Matthew 12:34, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” In the Rain for Roots song Good Fruit, Katy Bowser tells us “Your heart is where the words of your mouth grow. Your mouth is where the thoughts of your heart go.”  Discontentment, grumbling, and comparison all reveal a heart issue. I fail to remember and be thankful for what the Lord has already given me, and what He has promised to provide for me as His child.

Humble and Grateful

When Jesus told His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” He was calling for a continual posture of humility and gratitude before God. Every day is a new opportunity to remember how He has provided for our needs, to thank Him for being so kind, and to ask Him again to provide for what we need that day. We don’t know what the future holds, but He does, therefore we can trust Him to give us what we need for today without worry that we won’t have what we need for tomorrow.  Matthew 6 encourages us to remember: God takes care of the birds and the flowers; how much more will He make sure His children have what they need?

Remember His Goodness

Jesus promised to send a Helper, who will guide us to remember all the ways He has taken care of us thus far. When my mind wants to think of all that I want but don’t have, I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit’s gentle admonition to stop grumbling and start thanking. Many years ago, I learned a song that asks, “Are you humbly grateful or grumbly hateful? What’s your attitude?” I had the opportunity to help my children reflect on their attitudes recently. While their rooms were being repaired, the kids had to sleep on cots downstairs. One of my sons lamented, “This is the worst thing that could possibly happen!” It was a sweet chance to talk about all the ways God had been taking care of us through the mess and expense of home renovation, and to remind them just how blessed we were to still have a roof over our heads and money to pay for repairs. Instead of grumbling about a temporary arrangement, we could show gratitude that we would no longer be living in an unsafe structure! Truthfully, I needed all those reminders too!

Father, thank you for already providing everything we need, not just materially, but spiritually. You sent your only Son to take the penalty for our sins and to give us His righteousness so that we could be right in our relationship with you. When our gospel amnesia kicks in, would you help us to remember that “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash