When God’s Already Provided
What SHe SAid - Part 12
Jenny Marcelene, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
Growing up, I relished the sweet fragrance of lilacs that threaded its way through our kitchen window each spring. Our backyard was home to three different varieties of lilacs and spring was their moment to shine.
I always wanted to have at least one lilac tree whenever we bought a house. But my 20s and 30s were filled with rental homes—so I would walk to homes in my neighborhood where lilacs blossomed each spring to get my lilac fill.
When we purchased our first house this past summer, the listing mentioned having lilac trees. But when I asked the realtor and former owners, no one was sure where they would be—if they were on our property at all.
As our porch was covered in greenish-yellow pollen this past spring, I decided it was time to buy a single lilac tree. When I returned home from the nursery with my lilac tree, I walked around our property to find a good spot to plant it. And that’s when I noticed them—three lavender lilac trees blooming. I couldn’t believe it! Over the next couple of weeks, I would discover our yard was home to 18 lilac trees!
Here I was thinking I needed to make something happen, but God had already provided more lilacs than I could have asked for!
Sometimes we can miss how God is already giving us a good gift because we’re focused on what we should do to make something happen. Our Heavenly Father delights in reminding us of His love and provision.
My single lilac tree that wouldn’t bloom until next season couldn’t compare to the full grown array of blossoming lilacs in my yard. In giving me this good gift, I was reminded of God’s abounding love and how He knew years ago this would be where we landed.
Whatever good gift God has given you, know He offers it to you as a loving Father who delights in you. He deeply cares about our lives, right down to the littlest of details—like wanting a lilac tree.
As we walk in faith today, we can delight in knowing the Lord relishes in giving His children good gifts. He is faithful and knows precisely how to bestow blessings upon us.
Sometimes we may miss the good gifts God’s already placed before us. Perhaps He’s planting seeds that haven’t sprouted yet. Maybe we’re so busy planning, we miss what’s transpiring all around us. Or overlook the people and places and opportunities He’s already set before us that we didn’t compute as His provision yet.
But if we open our eyes, we can see His faithfulness is greater than we could have imagined. For God is always walking before us to prepare the way—and He loves giving us good gifts.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your lavish love and how nothing escapes Your notice. Open our eyes to behold Your grace and kindness in our lives today. Let us delight in Your love and provision. Amen.
Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.