“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs”— Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT).
When it rains, it pours. I’m not talking about the rain that pours from the heavens, but the times when it seems like everything goes wrong. In my situation, my desktop computer bit the dust.
I have money in savings for times like these. By the time I purchased the necessary replacements, including a new hard drive and monitor, and paid my tech guy, I spent almost $600.
The next morning, during my quiet time with God, I was lamenting to Him about my unexpected expenses. The month before, I spent $150 on car repairs. When would it end? Then, I read Zephaniah 3:17. The scripture reminded me that God is living among us, and He cares for every detail of our lives, even our financial situation. He is not some faraway entity who is unaware of what is happening in our daily lives.
God Cares About His Children
Fear of not having enough can lead to despair. I can recall times when my bank account was getting low. You know the saying, “Too much month left at the end of your money.”
The saying comes from a song by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill, and Dennis Robbins. The lyrics explore the theme of financial struggles and the feeling of running out of money before the month ends. Before I gave my life to the Lord and began to trust Him, I feared that very thing.
But God has always come through for me. My needs are always met, and I never want for anything. He calms my fears and rejoices over me with joyful songs.
God’s Joyful Songs of Nature
I’ve always been attuned to God’s creation. Even as a child, I felt His presence when outdoors. I look forward to spring when I hear the singing and chirping of the numerous and diverse birds He created. I think they are praising Him for the beautiful day and His provision.
Hearing their songs of joy in the morning reminds me to express my gratitude for all that God has given me. I’m not just talking about material things. I’m grateful He never gives up on me, a sinner saved by His amazing grace.
I praise God because He loves me so much, He gave His only begotten Son that I might have life. A life filled with joy and anticipation at the thought of spending eternity with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. But until then, I know He lives among us in spirit and truth. (See 1 Corinthians 3:16 and John 14:17.)
I always love hearing from my readers. Please e-mail me at carol@carolaround.com with your thoughts or visit my blog for more inspiration at www.carolaround.com. If you need a speaker or workshop leader, contact me at the above e-mail address or through my website. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
Photo by Tom Bradley on Unsplash