Trust
... in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer per person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.” The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage...
Something to think about
Even after God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and after seeing first hand God’s miraculous powers, some of the Israelites still struggled to trust God for their daily provision. Moses directed the people to gather as much as they needed but some gathered more. Because they could not guarantee the food for the next day in their own power, they tried to take control of the situation instead of trusting God for his promise of provision for the next day.
Do you trust God? Despite God’s faithfulness throughout our life, we can still doubt God. Trust is difficult.
Like the Israelites who had to daily choose to trust that God would bring food for the next day, we need to make the daily decision to trust God even when we don’t know what tomorrow holds. We too can choose to be grounded in the truth that God is good and only wants good for us.
Something to do
Make a list of all the times God has been faithful in your life. If we start with a foundation of God’s goodness, it will make it easier to trust. Then, spend time with the Holy Spirit today and ask God to reveal any areas you may need to exercise trust. Ask God to forgive you when you find it hard to trust.
Something to pray
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of your presence, your love, and your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust in your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us, for, living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things.
By St. Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556