Joshua 1:9 – 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. (ESV)

In our marriage, God has always been there for us as we both have had to partner with Him in undertaking the hard yards to achieve our goals. Sometimes, it becomes challenging to thank God for the work that we are doing, when we are hanging on by our fingernails. In such a state it is difficult to see the forest 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 that she had grown out of and which was getting tired through her use of it. The price for a bigger one was about twice the threshold for what we were willing and able to pay for a birthday present. However, yet again, God had other plans, and I assume that He must have heard my daughter's plea.

One day, Caroline and I saw a trampoline for sale in a supermarket with a twenty percent 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! It was not the best way to be the next person in the queue to start a dialogue with staff about the reduction. This became more apparent when I went to pay at the till computer and it did not give the twenty percent off the stated price labelled on the fixture.

Long story short: After I had respectfully called for a senior member of staff and had 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 price, down by twenty percent. The member of staff was so amazed at the sudden change that she jokingly questioned what influence had I had over the store's computers, as she was baffled by how that could have happened spontaneously!

Walking with God day-to-day in the commotion of getting by, it is easy to forget not only Whom we serve and how we may be a witness to Him by the way that we act, but also about granting God the space to intervene in our provision. I know that this is not an easy thing, especially during times of trial when life can be full of hurt, grief, and sorrow. Sometimes, however, God allows us moments of His practical favour — a light in the darkness — maybe to remind us of Whom 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 Your name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
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