I shall not want…
It is one thing to say it. It is another thing to actually believe it.
David makes a bold statement. I shall not want.
Not I hope I don’t want.
Not I probably won’t want.
But a definitive statement. I shall not want. There was no doubt in his mind about it. It was a settled reality in his life. He knew it was true. He believed it.
What about you?
You can know spiritual sounding answers and still not rest on Biblical truth. Plenty of people know this Psalm and other scriptures that affirm that those who trust in Christ will lack nothing they need. Yet, those same people live stressed out lives as they face the situations where that truth is put to the test. Their lips say they know it, but their lives say they don’t believe it.
When the kids were small and they were learning to swim, I saw this very thing played out with each one. It was an illustration of the tension between knowledge and belief. I’d be in the pool with each child. The instructions were clear. Put you arms out, head in the water, kick those legs, and swim to me. I was literally just a foot or so in front of them. They knew I loved them. They knew I wasn’t going to let them drown. They knew I was right there to grab them if they needed assistance. And each of them still did the same thing. They freaked out. None would keep their head in the water. Each panicked and splashed around until they could reach my outstretched arm.
Every time.
They knew I wasn’t going to let them go under. But none of them swam like it. If they couldn’t see me there or feel my outstretched arm, their knowledge was overtaken by their fear. All they saw was the water and not their loving father.
Fear can paralyze us. If we worry about the how and when of God’s provision, we can end up missing out on where God wants to lead us and what He wants to show us. Rather the stress over the needs, trust what you know…He will provide and you won’t be lacking in anything.
Jesus spoke about this in what we call the Sermon on the Mount. It’s found in Matthew chapters 5-7. Go check it out.
In the middle of this incredible teaching, Jesus speaks to a reality so many of us experience. In chapter 6, Jesus addresses that anxiety we often feel when we consider the needs we face. Jesus talks about the common needs we think we have, the ones most evident to us…our need for food and clothing. We all need those things to survive. But, I think Jesus was using the basic elements of need there to express a much grander truth. If He can meet those needs, surely He will meet the other needs, too.
It’s a perfect illustration. He points their attention to some birds flying around. Small, relatively insignificant birds that had Jesus not called them out, they probably wouldn’t have even been noticed. He reminds the people that those little birds aren’t freaking out about what they are going to eat. God provides for them. If God provides for little birds, who nobody even pays much attention to, wouldn’t He provide even more for our needs? After all, while God does love all His creation, He loves mankind more than the birds. He has a special relationship with people.
Driving the point down even further, Jesus points to some beautiful lilies. Back in the day, King Solomon had everything. He had all the riches and resources you could have. He was a sharp dressed man. Jesus says, even King Solomon wasn’t as well dressed as those lilies. Here is the thing, flowers don’t stress about what they look like or what they are going to wear. God’s got them covered…literally. God provides.
Flowers are here today and gone tomorrow and as lovely as they are, they fall lower on the scale than we do. If He will take care of the lilies, He will definitely take care of us. God loves the birds and the lilies, and both are well taken care of, lacking nothing. But, neither birds or flowers are His sheep. We are His sheep and the Shepherd cares for us in a way that far exceeds that of the birds and flowers. If they don’t worry, neither should we. I’m sure you know that God will provide for you, now trust that He will.
Today, you may be tempted to stress or worry about a need you have. You know that God is aware. You know He sees the situation better than even you do. You know that He loves you and cares for you. Instead of coming undone over it, trust Jesus. You may not see yet how He is going to walk you through this, but you know He will. Trust Him. He cares for you and will provide for you.
You shall not want!
Questions for Today
- What needs are you most worried about today?
- Why is it so difficult to not stress out when facing needs?
- How will you express trust and not just knowledge in your relationship with Christ today?
Prayer for Today
Lord, help me live a life of boldness and confidence. Help me trust you even when I can’t quite see how you are going to provide. Thank you for always meeting my needs. You move in ways I don’t expect to meet needs I didn’t even know I had. Your care over my life is amazing!
Amen.
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