He Will Provide, Always

A Reflection on the First Reading for April 3rd, 2022:
​Fifth Sunday of Lent

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Isaiah
43.16-21

Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
“Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.

“I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.

“The wild animals will honour me,
the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.”
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​The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people...
 

This scripture painted a vivid image in my head as I reflected on it: blue, running waters amidst the green forest; animals thriving in this space as the Lord intended. Balance. Peace. 
 

Being out in nature is refreshing, calming and grounding for me. I like to walk outside when I’ve had a long day or when I need a change of scenery because things feel overwhelming. There is always something purely beautiful about nature; you get to see God’s amazing creations and perfect design. 
 

I often do my best thinking and experience times of deepest prayer when I’m in nature, witnessing the many things that God provides us. Acknowledging this gift makes me feel thankful and at peace. But, when I venture back indoors to meet the stress of daily life, its responsibilities and uncertainties, I can easily forget how much the Lord wants to be my provider and comforter. 
 

It certainly takes lots of work, each day, to trust that God will provide what we need, especially in times when the way He provides for us is not a way that we understand or originally thought we needed. As an anxious perfectionist, I often struggle with this. It can be difficult to release control over my life. I used to fear that if I loosened my grip and let God in, things might spiral out of control. However, this could not be further from the truth. 
 

This is a lesson that we have to learn for ourselves, but I can confidently say that each time I have placed my full trust in God, I am amazed by His grace and the way that He provides exactly what I need. In my humanness, I often forget this lesson until the next time I find myself with a strong grip on whatever it is I am anxious about. But, each time, the Lord is patient and waiting for me to let Him provide.
 

I strive to be like the jackals and ostriches: honouring the Lord and trusting that they will have all of the water and nourishment they require. I invite you to pray with me for the courage to trust that the Lord will always provide for us what we need, always. Amen.




Megan Noye
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