A God Who Provides
By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor
“I will bring praise, I will bring Praise no weapon formed against me shall remain. I will rejoice, I will declare God is my victory and He is here.” This phrase comes from one of our newest worship songs titled Desert Song. It’s alluring phrasing, minor musical setting and content have repeated through my thoughts off and on as I have gone about my week. Near the beginning of the song there are some declarations made about owning the words that are being sung, and that no matter what journey comes our way that certain things are true about God.
One of those is this idea of God as a God who provides for us. This one in particular stands out in the face of so many experiencing loss by death this week.
Matthew 8:18-22
The Cost of Following Jesus
18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 21Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 22But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
At first read it seems terribly insensitive that Jesus would appear to disregard one man’s attempt at closure – to bury his family member. And yet when I consider Jesus’s perspective, I agree this life is temporary —it is merely a dash between the date on which a person is born and the date which they pass from this life into the next. Jesus also fully understood the benefit of the heavenly reward being enjoyed by the one who has passed on [perhaps he thought there wasn’t any reason to mourn the dead when in fact they should be rejoicing].
Even still, God provides for those of us who are left many times feeling abandoned or fore lore. He promised and He delivered for us the presence of His Holy Spirit.
Read what John 14:15-21 writes about this:
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
We are not alone to suffer in our grief and loss. Christ Jesus has sent a Counselor to be with you not only now, but forever more. Rest assured that both your loved one and that you are provided for.
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