Seek Him First

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26 NIV

I stared at the numbers on the paper in disbelief. With my daughter’s wedding on the horizon—the first of our five children to walk to the altar—I had made a trip out of state to help with plans.

Visions of flower arrangements, color themes, and catering ideas swirled in my head as we prepared to meet with the wedding coordinator. I wasn’t prepared to see the estimated cost of the celebration.

All day long, I thought about those numbers. I considered where we could cut costs to make it work. I sent a text to a friend who had offered to sell her wedding décor at a reduced price. Before I went to bed, I prayed that God would provide, fully aware we didn’t have enough money set aside for the estimated cost.

I woke to a text from my friend. “I donated that décor to the church. You can use any of it for free. Contact the event coordinator for help.” Thank You, Jesus. God had responded to my plea with a few expenses covered.

When I returned home, I continued to pray that God would provide. The upcoming months included a frenzy of wedding activities. Then, one evening, my husband came in from work and, with a smile on his face, handed me a folded letter. I opened it and began to cry. The company he worked for had recently sold to a new owner. In honor of the hard work of those who had contributed to the profit from years past, they were awarded bonuses. Randy had received a check in the exact amount we needed to cover the unaccounted-for wedding expenses. What a blessing! Thank You, Jesus.

Life in a blended family includes unaccounted-for expenses often. We can’t control the ebb and flow of child support changes, extracurricular costs we thought the other home would cover, unexpected medical bills, and a host of other expenses that often pop up. But we can trust that God knows what we need, and He will provide. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Heavenly Father, I often fret about the unending expenses that accompany our large family. Thank You for promising to provide for our needs. Help me to trust You more and worry less.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We can always trust God to provide for our needs.