Three Ways to Trust God’s Heart: Provisions, Purposes, and Promises

My day has provided me real-time practice for burying my head in the sand. Getting texts of disappointments, cancellations, and other less than hopeful outlooks has left me a little discouraged. However, there has been something new this week that I have experienced that I did not anticipate with all these moments: curiosity.

Previously when such days would occur, I would take things personally, wind up panicked, and be pessimistic. This week instead of panic, I have peace; instead of chaos, I have curiosity. I am reviewing these moments through a different lens that God has provided. A lens that is offering me a glimpse of how the word he gave me for this new year is revealing his promises, provisions, and purpose.

 The Word

More than resolutions, I seek a word at the beginning of the new year. I pray and ask God to lay on my heart what it is He desires for me. I read other people’s words on social media: rejuvenated, peace, hope. But I got “wait.” Not exactly the word I was looking for, but there it was. And how thankful I am now of that word.

With our fast-paced society, waiting has become a lost art. We do not like waiting for a seat at a restaurant, a red light, or the two-seconds needed for a file to download. We want what we want when we want it. But that is not how God works. I am learning constantly that He is not on my timeline; I am on His.

In this season of learning to wait, I have become more aware of the benefits of waiting. It was not until yesterday, however, that I had language for those benefits: Provisions, purposes, and promises. 

 Provisions

Provision is defined as “a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need.” God’s word continually shows the “beforehand” provision for us. The greatest provision being Jesus dying on the cross for our sins so that “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:7). We are His, and the utmost way He could offer this provision for us is by providing the ultimate atonement for our sins through Jesus.

Additionally, God’s provisions are available in our circumstances. He desires us to live life to the fullest (John 10:10), but He is also clear that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Although we may face difficult, heart-wrenching times, He provides for us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). However, we may have to wait for those provisions.

While His provisions are always available, they will not be our microwave version of delivery. Romans 5:6 reminds us of the necessity for the wait, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” God’s timing is planned to perfection because He sees all the working parts, the parts we cannot see. Therefore, the wait may not seem productive, and this will be one area where we practice trusting the Lord’s purpose for our wait, our circumstances, and the outcomes.

 Purposes

When we are facing difficulties, life-threatening events, or even watching loved ones face these trials, honestly, God’s purposes are often not at the forefront of our minds. We just want the pain, turmoil, and whatever else is going on to stop. However, if we are willing to let God’s provisions show us His purpose, we may experience the peace we so desperately long for.

God’s purpose for each of us may look different in how His purpose for us is achieved; however,  He does have a purpose for us. Ephesians 2:10 states, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Not only does God have a purpose for us, but also our hard-times, and life-changing times come.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 offers insight for the purpose for our pain, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Do I want to go through pain to comfort others? Not particularly. However, God has not brought me through the hardest times of my life just to sit on those moments. I have witnessed His hand many times using the pain I endured to help others. I have been able to support and encourage some people through their darkest of times and been with them when they saw the light of day again. In that I can rejoice and see not only God’s purpose, but also His promises.

Promises

God’s word is packed with promises. There are over 7,000 promises that God has offered humanity. We can rest assured that God is with and for us (Exodus 14:14). However, there are times where we may feel like those promises are missing us completely.

There was a season of my life where nothing appeared worth my time, worth my life. I cried out to God and told Him if He had a reason for me to stay on this earth, now would be a good time to show me. He provided me a purpose: Psalm 71:18. And then He provided me a promise: Deuteronomy 31:8. Desperation, however, is not the only time we receive God’s promises. They are available to us at all times and in all situations.

God’s word tells us that his mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22), and He is working all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We cannot be plucked from his hand (John 10:28). He promises He is for us, with us, and will sustain us daily (Romans 8:31; Isaiah 41:10; Colossians 1:17). These are solid promises that have not wavered in 2,000 years, and they will not waver today either.

 Final Thoughts

Trust that hard days will come. But trust even more God’s heart when you cannot trace His hand. You can rest knowing He is making a way for you when there seems to be no way. His provision, purpose, and promises are never ending. He is fighting for us!