God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).
I was reminded last weekend of how faithful God is and how my worries are nothing compared to what He can do. God is faithful when I go where He calls me. God knows what I need before I ask (Matthew 6:31-34), but so often I forget.
I’ve experienced His provision many times when things looked bleak from my perspective.
Last summer, I returned home after completing an unpaid internship and a semester abroad in Washington, D.C., and I was skeptical about my career in journalism. Despite my insecurities, I began working as a freelancer for my local newspaper.
That was my primary job for three years as I contributed articles whenever I was home on break from school. It was tough not being on a salary or being paid hourly, and I didn’t earn very much.
I worried about being able to support myself on such limited pay. Granted, hired reporters make much more than freelancers do, but the pay is still less than other careers. And thinking of having to change my career plans worried me even more because I didn’t feel called to do anything else.
One afternoon, I had a breakdown and brought everything before God in prayer. God often speaks to me through worship songs, and this time some lyrics from Jeremy Camp’s “Healing Hand of God” came to mind: “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you. He is near to the broken and confused.”
Those lyrics sent me straight to this verse in Scripture:
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).
I knew instantly that God heard my cry, and I resolved to set aside my worry and trust Him. The next morning, I heard “The Words I Would Say” by the Sidewalk Prophets on the radio. The lyrics that jumped out to me said, “God’s got His hand on you, so don’t live life in fear.” That was exactly what I had been doing — living in fear and doubting God would provide.
Not long after this, I received a $100 refund check in the mail. It was a refund for campus housing in D.C., but I never knew my original check had been cashed. And that was just the beginning of the Lord’s provision.
I ended up being assigned more articles at my local newspaper than I expected. Along with reporting, my editor had me working as a back-up photographer. I had co-workers calling to ask if I could cover stories they weren’t able to cover. My paychecks increased significantly from previous summers.
I even received written recognition from some of my sources. As if the abundance of articles and photo assignments weren’t enough, the recognition was like extra affirmation that I was exactly where God wanted me. His hand in it all was so evident, and I knew God was blessing my obedience to His call.
There are so many other instances where God provided for me financially. Anytime I feel like I’ll have to turn away from journalism to pursue a higher-paid career, God is faithful and provides all I need and more.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:5-6)
I don’t know where you are in life or in what difficult situations you find yourself. I don’t know your current struggles or worries. But, be confident that God cares for you incredibly more than you could ever imagine. God will provide all you need, for He is faithful.
