The Manna Life – ENOUGH
By Jennifer Holder, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
"The people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day." Exodus 16:4
The Israelites had finally been freed from slavery in Egypt, but now they were in the wilderness and needed food. They were less than gracious in voicing their needs to God via Moses, but God still provided for them each morning with a flaky substance that covered the ground along with the dew. Though God called it bread from heaven, they called it manna, literally meaning “what is it?”
But manna was about more than nutrition. It was about trust. Yes, it was a reminder about God’s divine provision and presence. But it was also about rhythms and behavior patterns reflecting the true nature of the Israelites' hearts, which is what God wanted to shape through this practice of manna.
Even though it was a miracle, they still had to gather what they needed each morning. It seemed straightforward enough, but it revealed a myriad of trust issues in the hearts of the Israelites. God wanted to communicate and teach them of His love for them, training them out of the scarcity mindset that had been embedded into their existence from their time in slavery. They needed to relearn how to relate to God. God started with their daily, most basic needs.
The rules around manna were simple: each morning, gather what you need for the day and eat it. On the sixth day, gather twice as much to honor the Sabbath rest. Easy enough, but the trauma these Israelites had endured meant that they needed a gentle and consistent environment to be able to test out their new way of relating to God. And test it they did.
"Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack." Exodus 16:18
When they didn’t collect enough, somehow, it was enough. When they over-collected, it was still just enough. It was always “only enough, but fully enough.” This practice of enough fed more than their stomachs; it fed their trust in God. Every single day was a new opportunity to choose to trust God, a clean slate every time they stepped outside to collect their food. What a gracious Father.
Repeatedly choosing trust made way for a movement of hope and faith in the Israelites’ hearts. Trust gives us eyes to see the faithfulness of God and not discredit His orchestration of our lives as the result of mere fate.
Not only did they need to trust that they would have enough when they gathered the manna in the morning, but as the sun went down and they consumed the last of what they had collected, they had to trust again that there would be more the next day.
So it was with me. Every morning I would pick up my manna, the little tented index cards, and pray over each one. Anytime I felt empty, I knew where to go. I knew who was providing for me. This repetitive act of trust strengthened my hope and faith. God was faithful every single day to provide me the manna I needed: only enough, but fully enough. Every single time.
I invite you to begin your own collection of manna, especially if you are in a season of crisis or grief. Write your needs on paper or identify an object that represents your need and take time to pray over that need in your hand. Believe that your help is just as real as the fibers of the paper or the object in your palm. Perhaps find a small basket or a box where you can collect what you gather each day. At the day’s end, you can thank God for providing each item as you empty your container in preparation for the coming morning. This is the manna life.
When grief or sorrow, loss or pain makes receiving difficult, these small actions can help ground your trust in God. Pairing it with physical sensations and engaging your senses, creates a powerful tool for moments when all that is unseen feels more powerful than what you have available to you through the power of God. For the next few days, I will bring you along as I go out to collect my daily manna.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for being an attentive God who hears my cry and is present with me in my pain and sorrow. Thank You for the gift of manna, ‘only enough, but fully enough.’ May my trust in You grow with each passing day as You lead me through the difficulties of life. Amen.
More free resources for help, hope, and healing:
Aging with Grace – Discover a fresh gospel that is big enough, good enough, and powerful enough to make every season of life significant and glorious. Free “Ask an Older Woman” videos and much more. Not just for older women!
About the Author: Jennifer Holder - Several years ago Jennifer Holder was unexpectedly thrust into the role of caregiver at the onset of her husband’s sudden crisis with debilitating OCD, panic disorder, and depression. She had to learn and continues to learn how to care for someone she loves who struggles with ongoing mental health issues. She quickly became aware that for every individual suffering from mental health, there are more who love them and are profoundly influenced as well. While she holds no formal credentialing in the mental health field, her experiences on this journey have compelled her to be a voice for the large, often invisible community of caregivers. Jenni wants fellow caregivers to know you are not alone, you are valuable, and although the role of caregiver is often seen as an unwanted burden, it can actually be a space of discovery, joy, and connection. She seeks to bring practical resources, hope, and levity to those living in the gaps in the mental health care system by honestly sharing her journey with the ever-growing community of those who love someone struggling with their mental health.
Connect with Jenni and her writing at jfholder.com
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Tuesday, 20 February 2024.
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