“ … for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:8
Romanian missionary Patrick Boyle relays one of the many accounts of how God always provides for him and his family. It seems that one day he and his family were getting ready for a shopping trip into the nearby big city. It was a trip necessary to get things that were not available in their rural Romanian village.
All were piled in and ready for the trip, when something that every driver does not look forward to happening happened. The van would not start. No matter what they tried; it would not start.
Getting a mechanic in the small village to fix the vehicle was not a simple solution; especially to fix the American automobile. It seemed the shopping trip was out of the question, and now they wondered how their transportation was going to get fixed. They went into the house to contemplate a solution.
As they were talking, a knock came at the door. It was two men asking if they could borrow the van from Patrick.
The missionary commonly let others use it, but he could not lend it this time. He explained how the van would not start.
They explained that they were mechanics. The two propositioned that they would fix it, if they could use the van. The exchange was agreed upon.
After eight hours of labor, they had the vehicle running. The starter was fixed; and it did not cost a cent. The mechanics got what they needed, a vehicle to help with their moving dilemma, and the missionary got the help that he needed. The two had set out for Patrick’s even before he knew he needed help. God again looked after his own and provided for their needs.
I’ve recently had to help a family member move to a new place. We do not know anyone in the area but God’s provision was always timely and just what we needed. He provided a place to stay in close proximity to a school, hospital, grocery stores, and most importantly a church with kind and loving people. He also provided a car that is reliable. With a move such as this, expenses are sure to build up. I know of only one way that all this could be accomplished and that is through my heavenly Father. I’ve learned to pray and just put my trust in Him and no one else, especially not myself. There is much uncertainty in this world but as a child of God, I have learned that there is always a certainty with God.
I love hearing how God meets needs of His children. Thank you for sharing that.
I of all people am sensitive to God’s provision.
I can give testimony after testimony of how God prepares the way for me by giving me or my men favor with people that become customers. It is uncanny how hard we can work at sales and produce little, but when God steps in He paves the way.
I once made a project of calling on a local plant to seek business for our company. Six years I called, stopped by, sent others, strategized, consulted, and everything we knew to do to open that door. I will say that they employ the best gatekeeper I have ever seen. No way, no how are you getting past her.
Until one day in November of 2015 I had never had contact with anyone inside that plant, I didn’t even have a name of anyone. One day along that time I was talking to a third party who gave me a direct line number to the plant manager. I called that number, left a message with my intentions, and figured I might never hear from him.
Immediately after that call, I got a call back from that plant manager asking if I could come look at a plant expansion. From the moment my team stepped into that conference room you could feel the favor of God. It was like we had been doing business with these people for years. There was trust in place that we did not create, there was confidence in us that we did not earn, there was no competition for the work, they intended to use us as if they had been using us for years. Since that day, we have worked for that plant, not only that, but they use the other divisions of our company exclusively.
I could continue all the way up to yesterday when I was at another local plant and had a similar experience.
The truth is that none of us have anything like security on this earth. Our jobs, our work, our possessions etc… none of them come with any meaningful guarantee. God’s hand of provision is everywhere.
That is a good point that most have to learn or relearn. There is no such thing as security in anything on this earth. Family members can leave us. Jobs can fail. Politicians can change their mind. Banks can fail. The only thing anyone can rely on and trust is the Lord, yet he is often the last anyone goes to.
It is amazing how we all depend on ourselves and not God as this story states God knows before we know what one needs . I don’t know if there are more people out there on other planets in the solar system but I do know there are tons here on earth yet God way up there knows each hair we have on our heads and our every thought and our every need even before we think or need . I can’t fathom or imagine the concept of how He can do all this as I would think it would be over whelming yet He does . Isn’t He amazing smiles .
He’s a good, good Father! Just like the song says!