“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”—Matthew 6:26, NIV
It was a beautiful, sunny winter morning. I was praising God that I was dressed, ready for church, and in the car. However, to my dismay, as I turned on the ignition to start the car, the service engine light came on, indicating that something was wrong with the car. All I could say was, “Lord, here we go again, another unexpected repair bill.” Since my mandatory retirement due to my health, I have had one financial challenge after another. I remember times in the past when I would read that a person should save and invest for the future. To my disadvantage, that message did not strike a responsive chord in my mind. I truly believed that I had plenty of time to save for the future. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Because of my physical health, I had to retire early from the nursing profession, which I loved, and I was not financially prepared. However, we serve a caring and loving God.
Matthew 6:26 has blessed me during times like these when unexpected and unplanned financial challenges have occurred. Whenever I have needed money for car repairs or a broken home heating system, among other things, God has always provided whatever I needed.
I was told that the car needed $320 dollar's worth of repairs. Over half of that amount was the labor charge alone. I did not have that amount, but I trusted God to come through for me. After telling a friend what I needed, he agreed to do the repairs for only forty dollars’ labor charge, if I purchased the needed parts. God came through again!
My faith in God increases with each new challenge. I believe that He allows these times of testing so that we will be encouraged to trust in Him. He desires that we move beyond our usual security blankets and comfort zones and abandon ourselves in total trust in Him.
Just as God provides for the birds, we can count on Him to provide for us because He loves us more than the sparrows. Do you believe today’s text? I do. If the Creator of the universe cares enough about the humble birds to care for them, why would He care any less about us? I have learned that I am of more value to Him than a sparrow.
Whatever you need, you can trust God to provide it.
Clementine H. Collins
First published in Carolyn Rathbun Sutton, ed., In His Presence (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference Women’s Ministries Department, 2018), 342.
