On the road again and again

[Blog friends: I am going to take a semi-stay-cation the next two weeks and recycle some older posts. If God gives me something new to write, I will definitely do it, but in the meantime, enjoy!]

[I’m laughing as I read this post from last year. Although the price of a gallon of gas has lowered, my trips as the taxi to my kids’ work, church, friends, activities, etc. haven’t exactly gone away. But, neither has God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness. Thanks be to God!]

“On the road again

I always seem to be on the road again

Taking kids to where they see lots of friends

I just seem to be on the road again” *

As I write this it is 10:30 p.m. and I just returned from a 2 1/2 hour trip to deliver two of my children to a camp for the week. Tomorrow I take other children to do volunteer hours for church. The next day I drive one to work. Next week I’m taking an out-of-state road trip to see family. The miles add up. And the fuel costs definitely add up – $100 a tank!!!

Our family has been trying to conserve money and use wisely what God has given us. Yet, everything is more and more expensive. If we’re focused on the latest inflation report, or talking heads’ analysis of the economy, or the news headline that screams a recession is coming, then the feeling of gloom and doom or fear can become overwhelming.

God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed. He wants us to trust him.

Today I heard the statement, “Was God faithful to you when gas was $2.00? Then, he’ll be faithful to you if it’s $6.00.”

Good point. Either God is faithful or he’s not. (He is.) Either God is trustworthy or he is not. (He is.) When we listen to the clamoring voices of the world telling us how awful things are, we may very well miss the strong but quiet voice of Holy Spirit whispering to us. When we surrender the part of us struggling to trust God with our money, we will find him faithful to provide. God can’t go against his own nature.

Jehovah Jireh,

Thank you for being our faithful provider, especially in these challenging economic times. We pray you would pour out your wisdom on your children and give us the self discipline to use our resources wisely. But we also pray you will break the power of the wicked whose economic policy decisions are hurting your people. Protect and bless your children and help us trust you and your faithfulness. We pray in Jesus’s name, Amen.

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the surging sea;
    when its waves mount up, you still them.” (Psalm 89:8-9 NIV)

“The power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.” (Psalm 37:17 NIV)

(*with profuse and sincere apologies to Willie Nelson)

[Originally published June 27, 2022]