The unmet need…

‘I was too busy looking at what wasn’t enough to realize God was answering prayers, multiplying seed, and blessing our family right before my eyes! I couldn’t get excited about the blessing, because I couldn’t take my mind off the need!’

That was my journal entry back in 2001. It was a season where our finances were a mess! I was working, and Tom was working two jobs! I dreaded every payday because the check didn’t last more than a day – it went to pay our bills, and literally there was nothing left! I prayed often for that magical check to appear in the mailbox to bail us out of our mess – but it never arrived. Our marriage was strained because of the financial burden, and there seemed to be no end in sight.

Little did I know that through our mistakes, God was moving in our lives powerfully. We were too close to the situation to see His hand, but His hand was there. During that season, we faithfully gave to God what was His, even when it put us in the red, and God faithfully made sure payday after payday that every bill was paid, we always had food, and our needs were met. Now I can look back and see what an amazing testimony to God’s faithfulness that was, but during it – I could only see what felt like a mountain of unmet need!

That’s pretty typical for most of us who are in the midst of a trial. Whether it is finances, family feuds, marital problems, or job issues, the unmet need seems to have our attention more than God. We seek Him to solve our problems, but we can’t always see His solution because we are looking for the solution we want by His hand!

Searching for our own solution from God, and not God’s solution for us produces a restlessness in our spirit. It leads to feeling discontent, abandoned, and at war with God; however, If we take our eyes off of what we perceive as an unmet need and instead upon the promises of God, we then can see miracles in our mess!

Instead of restlessness, we have rest: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28

Instead of being discontent, we are satisfied: The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Prov. 19:23

Instead of feeling abandoned, we recognize his presence: Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deut. 31:8

Instead of being at war with God, we stay at peace: “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isa 54:10

Our circumstances do not dictate the power of God, nor do they adequately represent Him in our lives. Our circumstances do, however, give way to His purposes in our lives regardless if we can see them or not.