Sometimes, you need hope for the days you are in need. Financial, spiritual, emotional, or otherwise. This is for those days.

The last few weeks have been a heaving sea of financial needs. One wave after another. The relentless pounding of these waves has left me exhausted.

In theory and on paper, the math works. In reality, not so much.

There are kids who need shoes and haircuts. Groceries, dish soap, etc. And we haven’t even touched the price of gas!

It all takes a toll. And I’m just tired!

Lately, my needs have been “front and center” in my mind.

I was bemoaning my situation to a friend the other day, and she looked at me and said, “But look at how many times God has got you through!”

I spent the rest of the day thinking about it.

Later, I realized that instead of flailing about in hopelessness and despair, I had options for how to handle my situation, and I would like to share these with you!

When it comes to dealing with needs, remember how God has rescued you, redeemed you, and given you gifts that far surpass anything you could dream up.

I had just read this verse that morning! I think God is trying to tell me something!

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Psalms 77:11

In desperate times, remembering the past can help you hold on.

There is no possible way for me to list every miracle God has worked in my life. Over and over.

He has redeemed me, healed me, and loved me as His daughter.

He has not forgotten my situation or my needs. He will provide.

When you are facing another wave of deep needs, it’s easy to forget how many needs have already been provided for.

It’s here we need to stop and remember.

I’ll start. A clean PET scan, a flat facing an open field and a small pond, good neighbors, and a job I love.

What about you? What has God already done for you?

Remember.

Taking just a moment to remember the miracles God has already provided is a great first step in facing whatever need you are going through right now.

Remember God’s part in the equation. It’s always about what He can do.

This is the hard part for me. I only see what I can do. And sometimes, many times, what I can do is not much.

I can’t heal my son’s heart; I can’t create $400 extra in a bank account; I can’t add more hours to each day.

But God can.

I hear people say, “But God.” What they mean is that they wouldn’t have gotten through their hardship if God hadn’t shown up.

Their lives wouldn’t have been redeemed if God hadn’t shown up.

The truth is, God has always shown up for you and for me.

We just forget to add Him into the equation.

We think it’s all on us, but that isn’t how God runs things.

Sure, He wants us to be responsible, hard-working, industrious. But it’s not all on us.

If you are doing the best you can and living the life you believe God wants you to, then hang tight.

Because God is going to show up in your equation; he is going to work this out.

We take the first step.

We make the call. We’re honest. There is no pretense here.

It’s a humble, honest assessment.

We have already remembered what God has done, and we have established the fact that if God doesn’t show up, this isn’t going to be good. But He will.

Here is the next step.

We make the budget, apply for a job, schedule the doctor, plan the business, write the blog post, and set up a counseling appointment for the son.

We call the electric company and look for billing options. We think outside the medical box if we need to. And we love that kid enough to get him some real help.

We are responsible for the first step.

The first step is always intimidating. You are looking up from the pit, and there are a lot of steps to take.

But God.

God meets us at the bottom, and He takes each step with us.

Yes, you got into a safe apartment. But now you need shower curtains. Another tank of gas. Shoes for the kid who has worn out the bottom of his old ones.

On and on it goes. One step at a time. One dilemma at a time.

We take the first step, and then God’s power shows up. And He works through us in a way we cannot even fathom.

When Moses crossed the Red Sea, he had to stretch out his hand

(For more on this.)

.https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2014&version=NKJV

What is your first step? Where are you supposed to stretch out your hand?

I hate this. I want God to just show up and help my wimpy, bawling self out of the pit.

But God has also told me to be strong and brave.

If it were up to me, I would stay a weak, faithless person, because that is easy. And I am a sucker for easy.

God, however, has a different plan. His plan requires me to be strengthened and challenged.

Take the first step. Speak life and truth over your life and your situation.

Write down the plan, and move forward.

Prayers for your journey,

Lacey