Help for Trusting God for What I Need Today

…trusting God with enough for today…

Had I known feeding myself and five other humans would be so difficult, I might have foregone marriage and motherhood altogether. Thankfully, I was blissfully unaware that this gal who had grown up in casserole land was marrying a man who preferred his meat and veggies separated. Or that I would have one kid who grew to detest cheese – which was in every recipe I prepared and was my fix for each recipe I ruined. Or another child who could not tolerate tomatoes but puts ketchup on everything. Go figure.

Since it was impossible to please everyone, we even made a rule that as we shared daily highs and lows at dinner, that meal’s food could never be someone’s low of the day. On a small scale, I could empathize with Moses as he dealt with the Israelites’ reaction to manna. The Hebrew word for manna literally means “What is it?” – a question my family has often asked when I try out new recipes.

When God told Moses that manna would fall from heaven for His grumbling children, He also made sure Moses knew it would only be enough for one day. I find it fascinating that a phrase in the Lord’s Prayer conveys a similar concept. The Greek word for daily in “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11) is epiousios,which means sufficient, necessary, appropriate for what is happening, or bread that meets the unique demands of the day.

God puts eternity in our hearts but frequently chooses to increase our trust in Him by giving us only what we need for one day or perhaps even one moment. I often want to know His plan for the days, weeks, and years ahead. The disciples and crowds who witnessed the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 had this desire. Having tasted of His wonder and goodness, they wanted Him to provide a lifetime supply. (John 6:34) But Jesus wanted them to understand He was the Bread of Life and that they could trust Him to take care of tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34).

This has consistently been a struggle for me: I want God to provide all the answers on my timetable while worrying about a day or circumstance that has not yet begun.

I’m challenged by a miracle George Mueller recorded while ministering to orphans in the 1800s. One morning, the children gathered for breakfast, although there was no food in the cupboards or money to purchase any. Mueller offered a prayer of gratitude for the food God would supply, and as he said “Amen,” a baker knocked on their door, bringing them fresh bread. Next came a knock from a milkman wanting to donate milk because his cart had broken down in front of the orphanage, and he needed it empty to repair it. God met the need of that moment. No more and no less.

By appreciating today’s blessings and provision, I can better experience God’s presence in this moment. My faith will grow stronger by trusting Him for what I’ll need tomorrow. By refusing to focus only on where I want to be, I won’t miss what God has for me where I am. And by praying for epiousios bread – sufficient to meet the unique demands of each day – I will become more like the Bread of Life. And that’s what I really need.

What must your anxious heart leave at Jesus’ feet as you trust Him for today’s bread?

for more on this topic, check out this podcast episode: