Tonight’s family service was a rather unconventional harvest festival! Mark spoke on the subject of God’s provision and our thankfulness from Matt 6:25-34. There, we see that God promises to provide for all our needs (see also Phil 4:19), not just in food and clothing. Jesus reassures us that we do not need to worry, because God’s provision and power are evident in nature (beautifully clothed flowers and birds whose needs are met by God) and we are far more valuable than these.
Worrying achieves nothing (except possibly magnifying the problems in our minds as we envisage all the ‘mights’ and ‘coulds’ which so often do not materialise.) We can rest in the secure knowledge that God knows what we need and loves us so much that He does something about it! Worry distracts us from God, but God is ever mindful of all our needs. Thankfulness is our response to God’s provision and power.
Diane’s testimony at the end of the service also reminded us how much God cares for us as individuals. In 1996, just before the birth of their third child, Mark was made redundant, and this period was difficult financially for them as a family. Nonetheless, as they learned to trust God for their everyday basic needs, they found they never went hungry and God’s provision and faithfulness upheld them. Sometimes, in the depths of winter, it feels like spring will never come, but God sends us signs of hope to remind us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. His love carries us through and His provision never fails.