Wanda Bam

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

Hardship is not an embarrassment. It provides an opportunity for innovation. It allows us to trust God but it also allows us to choose how we perceive it or who we might blame. Someone might have invested money and the money has since disappeared. Maybe someone lent money to someone else and the terms of repayment have not been respected; maybe everything was lost after a divorce and maybe someone’s debt now outweighs their insufficient income after hours and hours at the office. The loss of money often leads to a loss of security and possibly even the reason to exist.  Financial security is currently on many a lip and, as with the finances of our country, may have officially reached “junk status”. 

Many of us remember our difficult years, the time that we had to trust God for fuel to get to work. Maybe some of us remember how we had to exchange empty bottles for money for bread and a few sweets for the children. Times where some of us had to scratch through the pockets of our father’s jacket in the hope of finding some loose change so that we could buy something that we needed. God always seemed to have dropped a coin or two into the pocket. And so there are centuries of stories that can be told. But when told, these stories can either awaken anger and painful memories or they can awaken hope and a sense of peace as they testify to times of compassion, understanding and respect for the past as well as a deeper sense of dependence on God as the Provider.

What do we teach our children about hardship? Are our teachings based on intimate memories and thoughts or on destructive and depressive thoughts? We can choose as to how we think about hardship. It is an opportunity to teach our children how to rely on God. Hardship is experienced differently by everyone and is lived out differently. Let us become quiet and realise again that provision and breakthroughs often look different to that which we had asked and trusted God for. How and when God “hears” and “does” is what makes Him “God” and makes us, “human”. This is the safest place and the beauty of hardship. 

Prayer: Lord, I no longer know what and how to pray. I am speechless before you. Speak to me and teach me according to your will, so that I can do according to your will. Your Word is the light on my narrow, dark road. Amen