The Hand of Providence

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:6

Paul wrote: God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

REFLECTION:
I want to start today with a funny story, but I promise it's going somewhere...

Jessica just returned from a Spring Break trip to New York City with her students from Marquette. Among the many funny and crazy stories were tales of the students encountering the infamous New York City rats; the size of small dogs, they feast on the piles of garbage that line the streets. One of Jess' students saw a trash can moving and made the mistake of poking her head down near the opening to see what was going on. She was met face-to-face with a rat pulling out an entire piece of pizza. We joked that this rat was the "provider," bringing home the (Canadian) bacon to his rat family!

The reason that ridiculous story came to my mind this morning is because there is one word that really struck me in today's readings; PROVIDE.

We talk about people being "breadwinners" or "providers," but I am resting this morning in the thought that there is One even above that daily "rat race" - one whose very identity is wrapped around providing.

When I was a teenager, I used to listen to Michael W. Smith music a lot. He was big in the Christian music scene back then, and he had an old song that never made the big charts...but it was one I loved. In it, he sang about "The Hand of Providence" reaching out to help us on our way.

I'll provide the lyrics below, but I am going to invite you to read the scriptures above again; consider what it is you need today...and then trust. Trust that God's very name is "Providence," and that God regularly chooses to provide us with every blessing in abundance, so we too can share back in good works.

PRAYER:
God, you richly provide us with all we need. Help us to rest in the knowledge that our feverish activity is not what secures us. Help us to be still, and to be confident that providing for us is who you are. Amen.

"Hand of Providence" by Michael W. Smith:

Providence, Providence
See it laying down the cornerstone
The Hand of Providence, it's evident
For we could never make it on our own
Apportioning the power
Weighing all that it entails
Giving us the fulcrum
And a balance to the scales

Oh, the Hand of Providence
Is guiding us through choices that we make
Oh, the Hand of Providence
Is reaching out to help us on our way

Providence, ever since
Any thesis ever entered man
The Hand of Providence
Has been our best defense
Tho' his ways are sometimes hard to understand
From the dying of a heartbeat
To another soul reborn
From in between and circling
Our thoughts of love and war

Oh, the Hand of Providence
Is guiding us through choices that we make
Oh, the Hand of Providence
Is reaching out to help us on our way