I remember the day when I was told my Mom had cancer, again. I was 20 years old and in college 1,200 miles away. I felt all alone, confused, frustrated and angry. With a multitude of questions I went to see the one person who I believed could provide me with some answers. After I sat down in Mr. Schmidt's office I relayed the news to him, and I will never forget his counsel. He shared a word with me that broke through the layers of emotion and hit home...that word was "manna."
When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat." (Exodus 16:15 ESV)
He told me that "manna" was the food God provided the Israelites while they wandered in the desert. What's insightful about the word is that it literally means "what is it?" The wandering city dwellers who were on the first camping trip of their lives didn't know where their next meal was coming from. They needed to learn to trust God in everything and this trust included food. When God provided they didn't know what it was so they asked, "What is it?" Not a whole lot of explanation came from God, just instructions on when and how to gather it. This was a daily thing and thus a daily reminder to trust God.
This hit home with me and helped me because I didn't have the answers about my Mom's cancer. But God wanted me to trust Him everyday with the trial our family was facing. I couldn't heal her...I couldn't even be with her. But I knew that God was greater than distance and cancer. I knew I could pray for her and ultimately trust God. I did.
The rest of the story is that God chose to heal Mom this side of heaven. He has done this multiple times in Mom's life, and every time we all have had to learn to trust God with the unknown.
What is the "unknown" in your life? That is the very thing that God wants you to trust Him with. He is our comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), our strength (Exodus 15:2), and our strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). Run to Him...it's worth the trip!
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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