He Will Meet ALL Your Needs

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

I grew up in Texas where we lived in what some might call a “shack” on the edge of a small town. To me, it was just home. My amazing mother often worked three jobs to make ends meet but that “meeting” did not always happen. Looking back, I can honestly say that God always provided what we needed - when we needed it. He still does.

My husband and I knew the finances would be tight last week, but we did not expect the brakes to go out on one of our cars or plan a trip to urgent care or expect the electric bill to be so high. The cost of groceries suggested that we fast for a while and the rent was due. I know you can relate.

After many years of serving God, you would think I would know and walk in the truth that God is our source and provides everything we need - when we need it. Oh, no! I panicked! A frantic search for some solution to our financial problems ensued. In the midst of that panic, I suddenly remembered the mail. Interesting timing wasn’t it?

I had not checked our mailbox in three days and knew the box would be crammed full. When I unlocked our mailbox, a pile of newspapers, envelopes, magazines, bills and cards spilled into my hands and onto the ground. The mailman had also left me a key to the larger mailbox below that was usually reserved for packages. It was full of mail as well. I cleared off the kitchen table where I began sorting through the mound of paper, discarding all of the junk mail and organizing the rest.

And then I saw it – an envelope that seemed to stand out from the rest of the mail.

I slowly opened the envelope. The return address told me it was from the Women’s Ministry Director of a church where I had spoken several months before. One of my best friends was a member of the church, and I had offered to speak for an event that I hoped would encourage her as well as each woman who attended. I did not ask for or expect an honorarium, but as I slowly opened the envelope, I saw a check written for the exact amount that would meet our financial needs for the week.

I fell into a chair and began to pray, asking God to forgive my lack of faith and my choice to worry instead of trusting Him. I marveled in the knowledge that the check had been written long before the need became evident to me. In other words, God met our need before we even knew we had a need.

By the way, I am a mail freak and have been for most of my life. I check the mail every single day without fail. Not this week! God knew I needed a reminder of His faithfulness and He knew exactly when I needed it. He is always right on time.

-Mary