Filling Needs

          My parents provided for my needs even without my asking them for any particular thing. When the time for school rolled around, we would go up to the local department store and pick out my clothes for the coming year. I don't recall asking for a particular style or color of anything, but when given the opportunity would pick out those things I had decided on for the coming year.  There was only one year that I can recall asking for one pair of corduroy pants. That was in my senior year and the pants for senior was the cream colored corduroy that for some reason, became known as senior cords. On my senior year, I got the “senior cords” just because everyone thought it was the thing to do. Since that time, my needs have not been met by my parents, but by God Himself and it concerns a lot more things than senior cords. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” 

          All of a sudden, you find out that you are the parent and the provider for things for other people. None of us, or perhaps, most of us, don't live in a plastic bubble all by ourselves. We are in a continual state of giving and receiving. I mentioned some time back about a man who arrived at my front door holding a bag of frozen fruit. I wondered what he wanted and his reply was that he just wanted to give me a bag of frozen fruit. I gladly received the fruit and thanked him for it. The next time I made bread, I took him and his family a loaf of warm bread. Not too many people will refuse a loaf of warm bread. These are just surface things that make life interesting but there comes a time in many lives when specific needs are present and we don't have any way of doing it ourselves. I now find it difficult to change a light bulb in a ceiling fan without falling over. Getting on a small step stool that has three steps is a dangerous thing and so I need someone else to do it for me. One of the last things my kids ask me as they leave is, “Do you need anything from the basement?” While a light bulb needing to be changed is probably a need at one time or another, there are many other things in our lives that are needs that only God in heaven can supply. Peace, hope and safety in today's culture is dependent upon God and it is worthy for us to notice that in this passage for today that we are to not be worrying about anything but in every matter, we are to bring it to God. We are to ask God for those things that we can in no way supply for ourselves. When I want assurance for eternal life, I go to the only One Who can provide it, God Himself. While my neighbor can give me a bag of frozen fruit, it is only God that can provide peace in a time of turmoil. God may use us to provide an answer for someone's request. Second Corinthians in the first chapter reminds us about being a comforter for one another because God has comforted us. If a person is praying for a friend to just be in their life at that moment, then a bag of fruit could be his or her answer. It may also be that hug or comfort that someone gives to another through the words of the Scriptures. As we are comforted by others, so we ought to be a comforter for someone else. God has reminded us to not be concerned about anything but to bring our concerns to Him and we are exhorted to bring those requests to God instead of just worrying about them. God will answer and take care of each and every one of them. Praise God that He is still working in the lives of people today.