It has been a long week. Everyone around me seems to have had that kind of week too. Nothing earth shattering happened in my life this week; but still I feel a little overwhelmed. It has been one of those weeks that I just could not get it all done. I couldn't seem to complete the checklist. There always seemed to be something there was just not enough time to do. Someone that I did not have time to call. That commitment that kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list.
I feel like in my frustration that I did not do anything to the best of my ability. I feel like I snapped at people in a few of my emails. That I was short with people when they texted me. That I did not listen enough to my husband and to my children. That I let some people down that could have used a little encouragement from me. I feel like no matter how hard I tried it just wasn't enough this week.
This morning the Lord reminded me of His children in the dessert. The ones that knew that He was the One True God. The ones that He freed from captivity and gave the promise of new life in a land flowing with milk and honey. The ones that did not quiet get the obedience part and ended up walking in circles for a few years. Yet, in all of their shortcomings He provided them with manna. Every morning. Just enough for the day. No more. No less. The perfect amount for every person. Every family. Every day.
As the Israelites wandered through the dessert, God provided their food. There were a few rules. Nothing hard but the rules needed to be followed. The manna was to be gathered before sunrise. Early in the morning, His provision was available. The quantity collected made exactly one omer for every person. There was no need to worry about not having enough. His provision was perfect every time. On Friday morning, the amount gathered was enough for two days. His provision accounted for a day of rest. If the manna was not eaten on the day it was gathered, it would spoil. His provision was for that day.
Now don't you think that there were a few overachieving women in that group? A few single moms who thought if I just make enough for tomorrow too then I can sleep a few more hours. A few tired wives who thought that if they gathered a big basket full then their husbands might be impressed with how hard they worked and how well they provided for the family. A few daughters who thought that if they gathered an extra basket then mom would be grateful and maybe they would be the favorite for the day. If the internet had been available, I am sure that there would have been a few women who would blog about their gathering skills, photograph their innovative recipes and then figure out some clever way to make some manna creation Pinterest worthy!
But God is bigger than all of that. His provision is perfect. He went before them in a pillar of fire by night and in a cloud by day. His mercies and His tenderness and His Grace were new every morning. We don't have to work harder for it some days and we don't have to feel like we fell short in our gathering on others. He is faithful every day. With the perfect amount of everything we need.
Remember that today. Sit at His feet and gather your manna for the day. Then rest in the promise that it is just the right amount for today. He will sustain you. He will go before you. He will give you rest. And when you finish the day, even if you feel like you fell short, there will be more tomorrow.
Be blessed today my friends. Great is His faithfulness!
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
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