God’s promises are true. - 3rd December 2007

As I walked back to the car after dropping the children at school I was a bit sad about the end of the adventure that it marked. I had returned to the realities and routine of England after my trip to Mozambique. But, as I turned the corner, there right over the car was a magnificent rainbow. It was Gods reminder to me of the promises he made, and of how he kept those promises to me whilst I was away.

The decision to go to Mozambique was a really hard one, and I could not imagine how I would cope with leaving family, flying so far, and being in a totally different culture. I was also anxious about the food and about getting ill. But Gods’ first promise to me, as I considered the trip was this:

“The Lord will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or a stream that never runs dry.” Isaiah 58:11

I knew that was a promise to me, and God was so faithful in keeping that promise. All the food we had was lovely, and I knew that God would provide and look after me. We were always able to serve ourselves so I could take exactly what I was able to cope with, and would often be the first to get seconds! Even the cabbage was lovely! In the few times when I was a little anxious about the food we were given I was reminded that “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13, and so I would eat secure in the knowledge that all would be well. It was a little odd to think that the chicken in front of us had probably been running around in the gravel outside just a few hours previously, but it was certainly fresh!

I learned that God does provide for us, and often way beyond our expectations. He will not see us go hungry or thirsty, and will guide us through the desert places that we face. Those deserts may not be just physical places, but spiritual places too. When we are tired, parched, running low on reserves or feeling isolated, God is always there to provide for us. He will provide us with good things to eat, physically, mentally and spiritually, and he will enable us to stay as a stream that never runs dry, as long as we trust in his promise.

Lord, thank you for the promise of your provision. Thank you that you will always provide for me when I am in the desert places and that my stream need never run dry. Help me to come to you each day to be re-filled. Amen.