Sweet Provisions
As I folded laundry this afternoon, I thought about our family’s last few years. Have you ever had moments where you realize how God has consistently answered your prayers?
About five years ago I was super pregnant with our oldest, and the bathroom ceiling in our apartment fell in. It wasn’t a situation I handled particularly well; I was thoroughly done living there and used the mess as a way to get out. We moved in with my parents while we looked for a new place.
Finding another place was challenging, but we kept praying. Even though I hadn’t handled it all well, God provided. We finally found a sweet little 642 square foot condo that looked like a dream. We were able to move in a few weeks before our boy was born, which was an extra blessing as I had time to unpack and settle.
We made friends with our neighbor on the other side of our wall and chatted with her regularly. She loved seeing Levi grow and she was a great support as we temporarily cared for another little one. Then one day she found a place that suited her better, so we said our good-byes. Since we had the same landlord, she invited us in to see if we’d want to move our things over to a more updated condo. The layout and functionality of her condo was even more of a dream to us (me), so we worked it out and moved over. Another sweet provision.
Eleven months after Levi was born, we discovered another little boy was on the way. We would need to find another place to live, since our landlord only allowed for three. We began praying for another place where the boys could have their own bedroom and we would have a bit more space.
Some time later, my parents found an investment property they loved. A big, old, beautiful duplex with a great yard. We weren’t expecting to rent from them, again, but God worked it out wonderfully. Two bedrooms, an eat-in kitchen, a bright and sunny porch - it wasn’t hard to fall in love. We helped with some dirty work to get the place move-in ready, and were able to get in just before Caleb was born. Another provision.
Standing in the basement of our duplex, folding laundry for the umpteenth time, I am so thankful for how God has provided for us as our needs arise. He has given us just what we need, when we need it. Often He gives us extra, more than we were expecting or could realize we’d need. He sees ahead and He brings us where He knows is best.
Do you have stories like that, of His provision? Do you think of them sweetly, remembering how good He has been to you? I hope you do (and I’d love to hear them). He is such a good, gracious, generous God!
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18