“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

(Joshua 1:9 ESV)

In our marriage, God has always been there for us as we both have had to partner with Him in undergoing the hard yards to achieve our goals.  Sometimes it becomes hard to thank God for the work you are doing, when you are the one hanging on by your fingernails.  In such a state it is hard to see the wood for the trees, to see the bigger picture.  Our God is greater, He is watching. 

Recently, we wanted to buy my daughter, Sophia, a trampoline to replace the one she has grown out of and which is getting tired through her use of it.  The price for a bigger one is about twice the threshold for what we are willing and able to pay for a birthday present.  However God yet again has had other plans and I assume He must have heard my daughter’s plea.

One day Caroline and I saw a trampoline for sale in a supermarket with a 20% discount.  Later I went back on my own only to witness a customer being confrontational, so much so that the member of staff had had enough and left!  Not the best way to be the next person in the queue to start a dialogue with staff about said reduction.  This became more apparent when I went to pay at the till computer and it did not give the 20% off the stated price as was labelled on the fixture.

Long story short, after I had respectfully called for a senior member of staff, and been moved to the side, suddenly with no forewarning the member of staff’s price scanner in and of itself without her interaction showed the new reduced the price, down by 20%.  The member of staff was so amazed at the sudden change she jokingly questioned what influence I had over the store’s computers as she was baffled by how that could spontaneously happen! 

Walking with God day-to-day in the commotion of getting by, it is easy to forget who we serve, how we may be a witness by the way we act but also about granting God the space to intervene in our provision.  I know this is not an easy thing, especially during times of trial when life can be full of hurt, grief and sorrow.  However sometimes God allows us moments of His practical favour a light in the darkness, maybe to remind us of who it is we follow and what we can thank Jesus for, on our journey into eternity.

PRAYER: LORD, thank you for watching over us through the good times and the bad.  Enable us to trust Your partnership in our provision.  Jesus You grieve with the broken-hearted, You lift up the forlorn and yes, You rejoice along with the joy of the thankful heart, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Rod Marshall
Roderick Marshall Blogspot