Provision

I’m a stay-at-home-mom to two kids and my husband is a high school science teacher.  We have four people in one household living on one teacher’s salary.  And we’re making it.  All the bills get paid, we have a roof over our heads, and food on the table.  How is that possible?  Two words.

God’s grace.

I didn’t think we’d be able to afford for me to stay home.  I went through my entire first pregnancy thinking I’d go right back to work after my maternity leave.  I even had my return date set with my boss.

Meanwhile the hubby gently shared his feeling that I’d change my mind and want to stay home after the baby was born.  I was stubborn and insisted that I would have to go back to work.

I looked at the finances and the numbers didn’t add up.  At all.  It didn’t make sense for me to stay home.  We couldn’t afford it.

Then the time came.  My daughter was born and over time God softened my (sometimes stubborn) heart and while praying and asking God what He wanted me to do, I felt like He was telling me to stay home.

What do you know?   The hubby was right!

But the numbers still didn’t look good.  Nothing about the situation changed but God changed my heart about it.

Still not 100% sure I was making the right decision, I chose to follow what I felt God was telling me and quit my job to stay home.

God has always come through for us and provided what we needed.  One of the many examples is how He provided a down payment for our house through a family member OUT.OF.THE.BLUE.  Totally unexpected.

So after seeing how God has provided exactly what I need, why do I still worry about finances?

I think it’s because I’m still learning how to trust Him.

Today at a meeting of other stay-at-home-moms at my church, we went over a verse I’ve been reading a lot lately.  It’s kinda comical how God keeps bringing me back to the same verse.  I guess I need to get it through my thick head!

 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

I felt like God was encouraging me to print this verse out and leave it displayed in the office where I pay bills.   That is the place where I get most anxious about our financial position.   I have to battle anxious thoughts with the Truth.

So my plan is to have the picture below printed out, framed and hung up in the office so I’ll be reminded that God’s got my back and I don’t need to worry.

So what’s your story?  Has God come through and provided something you didn’t think was possible?