I have a confession. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ was never a part of the Lord’s Prayer I took seriously. I thought we said it to show that we understood where our provision came from. I never thought I’d be in a position where I had to ask God to give me my daily bread. I never thought that at almost 35, I’d be unemployed and legitimately have to figure out where my next meal would come from- especially since my obedience to God put me in this position.
I found myself in the same situation as the Israelites traveling through the wilderness. Following God to the future He promised me. Did you bring me out of Egypt to starve, Lord? And just like the Israelites, after a while, I realized that He was indeed providing for me. Even if I was tired of eating spaghetti, excuse me, manna. I wanted something more. I missed when I didn’t have to grocery shop based on what meal would stretch the farthest. I was tired of manna.
But God doesn’t promise to provide the niceties we were accustomed to when we were misaligned. He promised us daily bread. And if He gives us that, He’s kept His end of the bargain. Seems harsh, right? A little bit, yes. But let’s take a look at what Jesus said.
This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing- everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25 Passion Translation).
I could stand to fast a little bit more anyway, but sheesh, this hits hard. Food is a basic need for survival, yet Jesus tells us that our bodies are more than that. He tells us that we shouldn’t concern ourselves with what we’re going to eat and drink. And that if we seek the kingdom, our bodily needs will be taken care of just like the birds.
The entire concept seems counterintuitive. Because what do you mean, seek the kingdom, and You’ll feed me? There’s literally no food in this house, Lord.
But manna was never about food. It was about trust. That’s why it didn’t last more than a day. You couldn’t store it or preserve it and save it for later. You gathered what you needed for that day and had to trust that more would come tomorrow.
To be tired of manna is to be tired of trusting God to provide. There’s no way around it. Manna is tantamount to trust in sovereign provision. I cannot provide for myself better than He can for me. So until the milk and honey arrive, I will feast on my daily bread. And I promise to work on not complaining about it, Lord. Scouts' honor.
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