‘…but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.’ Matthew 6:32 NLT

God loves to give. Listen, “Since He did not spare even His own Son for us…won't He surely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 TLB). When you were born again, you became part of God's family. But, there's a difference in what outsiders know, and what family members know. Your children know things about you – what you have, what you like, what you do – that outsiders never see or know.

And it's the same with us. Because we know that our Heavenly Father is rich and that He has great plans for us, our expectations of Him are enhanced and our confidence in Him is strengthened.

But, just because He has it that doesn't mean He'll automatically give it to you. A good father exercises restraint. He's not only good to His children; He's good for them. Often He withholds things for a season in order to build character and correct behaviour. Then, when the blessing comes, they're mature enough to handle it.

If you don't understand this, you can easily become discouraged and turn away from Him in anger, because you believed for something that didn't come on time – or come at all.

But, if your faith in His wisdom is stronger than your own personal agenda, you’ll hold onto His promise, trust Him, and wait patiently for the blessing to come. Why? Because you understand that your Heavenly Father knows what you need!

SoulFood: Gen 35–36, Jn 16:19–33, Ps 2, Ecc 3:1–4

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©