His Provision

How many of you have ever had an unexpected, not-bugeted-for expense?  The car breaks down, the sump pump quits, the refrigerator has to be replaced.... Large or small, the expense was not planned for and you have made no provision for it.

Travis and I have had our share of unexpected expenses in the four years we've been married.  We had to replace the A/C compressor on our car--and then replace it again a year later.  We had to buy four new car tires to replace the one-year-old ones that had worn so unevenly they were ruined.  We had to replace the control panel on our two-year-old clothes dryer.  To be honest, I can't remember all the unexpected expenses we've had pop up.  But I can remember this:  Every time we've had an unexpected expense, we've had an unexpected extra source of income.

Here's the latest example.  At the end of September, we privately sold Travis' commuter car (which happened to be the car I had brought into the marriage).  The buyer handed us cash, I signed off on the title, and the deal was done... or so we thought.  About a week ago we found out that in order for the car to be sold in Iowa (where we live), it had to be titled in Iowa.  Because there was a lien on my car when I moved from Nebraska to Iowa, the car still had a Nebraska title.  So when the car's new owner tried to have the title put in her name and couldn't, we found out that we would have to pay for an Iowa title on a car that wasn't even ours anymore (Well, technically it was still ours because a car titled in Nebraska can't be sold in Iowa....).  Anyway, I was immediately disappointed to learn of this unexpected expense and had no idea what it would cost or where the money would come from.

In the meantime, Travis was summoned for jury duty.  Because he is a salaried employee, he wouldn't lose money for the missed time at work; and he would be paid $30 a day for jury duty.  Thirty dollars times a couple days minus a couple lunches comes out to more than enough to cover the $34 title and registration fee.

Granted, the expense was much less than I had originally feared it might be, and it could even have been paid out of our normal salary; but that is not the point.  The point is that when we had an unexpected expense, God once again provided us with an unexpected extra source of income.

Why do I ever worry, even if only for a moment?  God knows what we need, and He has always been faithful to provide it.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth.  For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?  And why are you worried about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do no toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow in thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?  You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?"  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:24-33)

For more neat stories of God's provision, check out The Crunchy Mommy or ask my friend Melissa about the chapstick and the dish soap. :-)