“Give us this day our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
Sometimes things loom up before us that seem impossible. Facing a big surgery, or the death of a loved one, or a lost job, or even a pile of unending laundry can feel like facing Mount Everest. We know that with God all things are possible, and we know He gives us the grace we need. But will it be enough? Fear closes in. Weakness. Uncertainty. How will we ever have enough strength to handle it?
I was thinking about this one day when I was baking bread. It smelled so good coming out of the oven. The dark gold color of the outside signaled perfect crispness. Like my Granny used to do, I rubbed butter over it, allowing it to melt into the fluffy interior. Before the bread could even cool, my family devoured a whole loaf. This was fun, but it’s not typical of our bread-eating behavior.
We buy most of our bread at the store, and it comes pre-sliced. On Monday I use two slices for my husband’s sandwich, and on Tuesday he gets two more. It’s the same for my kids. Two slices each, lathered in peanut butter and jelly. Then two slices the next day. Not the whole loaf at once.
Our bread-eating habits are the perfect metaphor for how God’s grace works—and His strength, His mercy, His power. When we’re contemplating Mount Everest we may want the whole loaf, but God knows what is good for us. He knows what we really need. He slices off enough for the first step. Then, when it’s time for the next one, another slice is there. And another and another and another till the journey is done. The whole loaf is ours—but God gives it as needed. Never too little, always just the right amount to fit our need.
Faith step: What is your deepest need today? Trust Jesus for it. He is Your manna from heaven.
