Father, I remember Abraham’s anguish. You’d told him to kill his beloved son, as a burnt offering. “Where is the lamb, Dad?” Abraham encouraged his son with the trust You gave him, “God will provide for himself the lamb.”
You had promised that You would create Your own people through Abraham’s family. How could that possibly happen if Isaac died? It made no sense to Abraham, about to do the painfully unthinkable. But You empowered him to trust You.
And You did indeed provide…the Lamb.
Jesus came, through it all! Your entire family tree became…and You’ve included me. Thank You, Father.
It had already been a bumpy forty years for old Abe, and You again tested his faith in Your promised provision, even when he couldn’t understand how (Gen. 22:1-14). You were testing his reverent fear of who You are, gloriously far above all he could understand in mere human wisdom.
Lord, I don’t know how you plan to provide in my situation either, but I confess that I want to. Some moments, I don’t see Your provision as I imagine it. But You promise You are our all-sufficient Provider today and every coming day. So I interrupt my suffering with praise to You as my Provider!
You will provide every need, Lord
I praise You that You are my compassionate, wise, good, and powerful heavenly Father, holy in Your steadfast love. You know my every need, and You promise to provide those needs abundantly.
Maybe that’s it – do I understand what I really need, as You do? What are my needs, Lord?
So many moments, I need joy, thanksgiving, and peace when I’m anxious (Phil. 4:4-7).
I need material things like food and clothes. Jesus promises, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Mt. 6:32). Yes. I remember how You’ve provided these daily necessities…and You will continue.
I can trust that You always give me what I need. You know best. I can trust all outcomes to You. You are my God!
My Shepherd will supply my need;
the Lord God is his name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed,
beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
when I forsake his ways,
and leads me for his mercy’s sake
in paths of truth and grace.
(“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” Watts, I., 1719)
You strengthen me, my Provider
Maybe what I need most today is a contented rest and peace with Your provision in this challenging time. This can only come by Your grace, Lord. Please teach me, help me, and strengthen me to be content and at rest.
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound in every circumstance… I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:11-13 ESV, emphasis added).
Thank You for these precious promises, Father.
It’s just like You did with Abraham.
You enabled Abraham to trust in Your provision. Because You are Almighty God, Abraham could endure his current anguish with faith that You would provide in Your perfect way and timing, according to Your will.
He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead (Heb. 11:17-19 ESV).
Abraham “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Rom. 4:20 ESV, emphasis added).
When I walk through the shades of death,
your presence is my stay;
one word of your supporting breath
drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
shall still my table spread;
my cup with blessings overflows,
your oil anoints my head.
I trust You, my Provider
Father, You know I’m going through so much and I’m praying for so many desires and needs right now. But as Your so-loved child, I trust that You alone know what’s best. You’re providing all my needs until I possess my rich and promised inheritance in Christ—eternal life in Your presence!
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise (Gal. 3:29 ESV).
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Ps. 23:2-3 KJV).
So, being content and at peace as You lead me, through this earthly suffering? Oh Lord, this is Your empowering work by Your Spirit, to the praise of Your glory! (Eph. 1:12, 14).
The sure provisions of my God
attend me all my days;
O may your house be my abode
and all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
while others go and come
no more a stranger or a guest,
but like a child at home.
Please bring this about as my Provider. In the glorious name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Material adapted from Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle. Copyright © 2022.
Singing songs of praise and trust to our Provider, our God
What a continual, hourly prayer-song as we suffer. Like Abraham, are you walking through a time of immense need to trust our good and compassionate Provider?
Me too.
So, I’ve made a YouTube playlist with lyrics for us to sing to God, believing, trusting, praising, and filling our hearts and minds with Scriptural remembering. For what is true?
Our Lord is our Provider, we are His deeply loved children in Christ, and we can trust Him as He leads and helps us, through this pain and suffering.
If it would bless you to fight the good fight of faith with singing to the Lord, sign up here, and my professionally curated playlists will come to your email. I’m right there with you, sister in Christ.
