God Will Supply Our Needs | A Spiritual-Parenting Parallel

Friends of ours have always told us that they learned more deeply, profoundly and personally about the characteristics of their heavenly Father when they became parents. I figured that would be true, but WOW, is it ever apparent when you're actually a parent!

I remember when our son Elias was about nine months old. He was going through a phase where he would throw fits if he wasn't getting something he wanted immediately. For instance, we'd put him in his high chair at the table and put his bib on, which signaled to him, "it's time to eat food." If there wasn't food visible at his place setting the very instant he was in that chair, he hollered and cried as if we were not going to feed him at all.

One day, when my level of annoyance with this phase had reached a new high, I found myself in a silly monologue with him, like he could understand my reasoning. (I was fully aware my words were more for my own sanity.) "Elias, please calm down. Don't you know that we give you food every day because we love you and we know what you need? We gave you food yesterday, we'll give you food tomorrow, and of course we'll give you food today! Just trust us and be patient! Your food is coming."

It was then that it hit me—hard, like a slap in the face. So THIS is how God sometimes feels about me as his child! When my needs aren't supplied immediately in the way that I want them to be, too often I'm quick to assume that God simply won't provide for me. But he is my Father! He loves me and knows my needs better than I do. He provided for me yesterday, he'll provide for me tomorrow, and of course he'll provide for me today! I must trust him and be patient. My supply is coming.

Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Matthew 7:9-11 (NLT)
"You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."