When God’s Already Provided
Jenny Marcelene, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Growing up, I relished the sweet fragrance of lilacs that threaded its way through our kitchen window each spring. Our backyard was home to three different varieties of lilacs and spring was their moment to shine.
I always wanted to have at least one lilac tree whenever we bought a house. But my 20s and 30s were filled with rental homes—so I would walk to homes in my neighborhood where lilacs blossomed each spring to get my lilac fill.
When we purchased our first house this past summer, the listing mentioned having lilac trees. But when I asked the realtor and former owners, no one was sure where they would be—if they were on our property at all.
As our porch was covered in greenish-yellow pollen this past spring, I decided it was time to buy a single lilac tree. When I returned home from the nursery with my lilac tree, I walked around our property to find a good spot to plant it. And that’s when I noticed them—three lavender lilac trees blooming. I couldn’t believe it! Over the next couple of weeks, I would discover our yard was home to 18 lilac trees!
Here I was thinking I needed to make something happen, but God had already provided more lilacs than I could have asked for!
Sometimes we can miss how God is already giving us a good gift because we’re focused on what we should do to make something happen. Our Heavenly Father delights in reminding us of His love and provision.
My single lilac tree that wouldn’t bloom until next season couldn’t compare to the full grown array of blossoming lilacs in my yard. In giving me this good gift, I was reminded of God’s abounding love and how He knew years ago this would be where we landed.
Whatever good gift God has given you, know He offers it to you as a loving Father who delights in you. He deeply cares about our lives, right down to the littlest of details—like wanting a lilac tree.
As we walk in faith today, we can delight in knowing the Lord relishes in giving His children good gifts. He is faithful and knows precisely how to bestow blessings upon us.
Sometimes we may miss the good gifts God’s already placed before us. Perhaps He’s planting seeds that haven’t sprouted yet. Maybe we’re so busy planning, we miss what’s transpiring all around us. Or overlook the people and places and opportunities He’s already set before us that we didn’t compute as His provision yet.
But if we open our eyes, we can see His faithfulness is greater than we could have imagined. For God is always walking before us to prepare the way—and He loves giving us good gifts.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your lavish love and how nothing escapes Your notice. Open our eyes to behold Your grace and kindness in our lives today. Let us delight in Your love and provision. Amen.
More free resources for help, hope, and healing:
Treasures of Encouragement – Learn how God sends treasures of encouragement to help turn hearts toward Jesus and how the beauty, privilege and power of biblical encouragement is a means to invite others to trust the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness in the mundane moments and especially in the broken places of life. Free supplemental resources.
About the Author: Jenny Marcelene I spent six years living in conservative Muslim countries and desire to help parents and children catch a glimpse of how God is at work among the nations. I've traveled to 30 countries (and I'm not counting layovers when you don't actually leave the airport—that's cheating in my book!) and marvel at how each culture uniquely reflects aspects of God’s character like a multi-faceted diamond.
I work as a freelance writer and editor, including projects for Oakseed Ministries International. Once upon a time I worked as a Children’s Ministry and Curriculum Coordinator at my previous church for three years. I'm a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (that's a long name for children's writers!) and hope*writers. Visit her website.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Thursday, 29 August 2024.
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