God’s Goodness ~ His Provision

God is so incredibly wise. That is probably an obvious idea, but the truth weighed heavily on my heart this month. I thought I was going to write about one thing and then He showed me something entirely different, entirely better.

This month’s “focusing on His goodness” topic is provision—seeing the ways in which God provides.

My mind was set on recognizing the ways He provides financially and practically, but I kept finding myself researching scripture that did not seem to fit, until, well, it all seemed to fit perfectly. And then I remembered, God is not a creator of chaos or confusion. He’s the God of order and His name is Provider.

I looked up the definition of provision and the expected definitions of food, material, and money were there, but the two descriptions that challenged me were “preparations made beforehand” and “an amount set aside out of profits in the accounts of an organization for a known liability.”

What does this mean when thinking about the Creator of the universe? To me, it sounds like He knew. He knew beforehand what we would need. He knew the risk He would be taking in us, in trusting us with His creation, His vision, and His people. He knew that we would be a liability, and He set aside an amount out of the profits to provide for us, to cover us.

Let’s go back to the beginning, the genesis. His provision is clear: Heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). Evening and morning (1:5). Water, sky, and land (1:9 & 10). Plants bearing seed and trees bearing fruit 1:12). Every living and moving thing (1:21). Man and woman, us, in His own image (1:26). Life and lineage (15:4 & 5). Grace and mercy (50: 20 & 24).

He knew it. He knew He would need to provide everything for us, for all our needs—heaven and earth, soil and sea, seeds and fruit, health and wholeness, grace and mercy—His son for our sins. He prepared it for us beforehand. Before heaven and earth. Before soil and sea. Before man and woman. Before we existed, He knew. He knew the cost and set aside an amount—His ultimate profit, His son, to pay our debt.

He provides because He loves—in a way that is beyond my understanding. Whatever the need, it’s already been provided. Do we need love? Do we need grace? Peace? Healing? It’s done. I may not be able to comprehend all this now, but I will continue the pursuit of knowing God and throwing off lies I have believed about Him because…

James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 103:2-5 –
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion.
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

His provision is practical and material, but it’s also so much more. It’s entirely different, entirely better.