The Wilderness and Providence – Day 5

“He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas.” ~Psalm 78:15

Providence defined by Webster is “divine guidance or care.” It’s origin comes from the Latin word “providentia,” which means the ability to see something in advance; foresight, foreknowledge.

The reading from the pamphlet today focuses on God’s Providence. The direct and indirect ways He is shaping the future. There has been much debate of God knowing the future; God making the future events happen which all leads to the question “If God already knows, does “free will” actual exist?” My position of this particular subject is I believe both can be true. Since I am only human and not a learned Christian theologian I am at a disadvantage to say God does not really acknowledge “free will” what I can say with certainty is, I believe in God, creator of all things. God loves all of His creation and wants only the best for all His children. I know that I am nothing without God, He sustains me, loves me and forgives me of my sins.

The Bible gives us many examples of God providing water for people who are lost and struggling in the wilderness, to prepare them for the transformative work to come. Have you every thought about your actions or reactions to specific situations (?) you may notice that sometimes you know exactly what needs to be done? I have and every single time when I look back at my life and I have had experienced something similar before and because of that experience I am now more fully prepared to help others and even myself when there’s a need. I have found that in times of deep sorrow I am less likely to implode on myself because of lessons learned.  I have experienced two devastating events in my life over the past decade and I look back and wonder how I made it through such dark and heart wrenching events. I never really imagined life without my mom, but she left this earth over five years ago. I was crushed, I went through all the stages of grief more than once and I’m still here. It was God’s unrelenting love that helped me. There’s so many things I had to learn because she was gone, now I’m stronger, wiser and more compassionate because of losing her. The other defining event in my life was the ending of a nearly decade long relationship with the person I loved and wanted to grow old with, people change and grow apart, I just didn’t see it happening. It took several years to even talk about it because it still hurt. It hurt because I wasn’t ready to let go and move on, over time things began to change and I could see more clearly that it had been for the best. I have nothing but fond memories and we both want one another to be happy. Yesterday would have been eighteen years, silly how some dates are forever etched into our brains. It’s true that time heals wounds. The reason I shared these two events was to let you know that even though these were difficult times for me, I have learned so much about myself, my world, and most importantly the people I love and care for. These were teaching moments in my life and my hindsight allows me to see God working in my life.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

Bible examples of God providing water for people in the wilderness:

John 4:5-42 “Jesus talks with a Samaritan Woman”
Verse 7: “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
Verse 10: “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Verse 13-14: “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

1 Kings 19:1-9; 21:25-28 “Elijah Flees to Horeb”
Verse 6: “He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.”
Verse 8: “So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.”

Exodus 17:1-7 “Water From The Rock”
Verse 5-6: “The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Where has God provided in your life, and how did it bring change into your world?

Breath Prayer: When I am parched with doubt, God of Living Water, fill my cup.

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
https://www.biblegateway.com