It Will Be Provided
“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Genesis 23:14 (NIV)
Our home, located on the southern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers some pretty amazing views. I see these majestic views differently with the sunlight and sky variations and never tire of the beauty. Mountains have great significance in the Bible, and their symbolism teaches of the presence of God, a source of water and life, a place for instruction. They also represent great struggle and victory. Last year, our nonprofit, Saving Susan Ministry, conducted an art therapy project where children painted a mountain range while considering the highs and lows of their lives. These paintings depicted the wide range of circumstances that life brings our way.
One of the most dramatic stories told in the Bible is Abraham’s, as he takes his son Isaac up a mountain with the intent of sacrificing him to the Lord. This story is so strange because I can't imagine what Abraham endured walking up that mountain. Thinking about ending his son’s life to fulfill a call from God seems more than I could handle. For many, this act of obedience is beyond our comprehension. However, it serves as an important lesson of what God can do when faced with a heart-wrenching decision.
This morning, as I read this story again, I gleaned a new perspective. Scripture tells us God provided a ram for the sacrifice as a substitute for Issac. When reading “on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided,” I thought about how many times in my life God has provided answers in challenging circumstances or with relationships I have needed to end. These answers did not come until I struggled deeply and asked God for guidance. Sometimes the strain was difficult, like a hike up a steep mountain that I needed to navigate before seeing the view from the top. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “you shall find me, and I will bring you out of your captivity” after it says, “when you seek me with all your heart.” The order of this verse points out step one is to seek God.
Is there some mountain in front of you, and you’re not sure what to do? Do you sense God asking you to go in a certain direction but feel it’s impossible? If so, have you taken this to a place where you are seeking God with all your heart? You may wonder: what does it look like to seek Him with all your heart?
Here are some ways I find helpful when seeking God in intense persistence:
First, praise Him for who He is–His presence and faithfulness.
Lift the issue up by setting a daily alarm at a random time, then pray.
Memorize a verse that connects your heart to God and the issue.
Fast.
Ask others to pray.
Pour out your heart to God and give him your emotions.
Recognize where peace comes when thinking about the issue. That’s where I often find God leading me.
Then, pray some more!
Would you pray this with me?
Dear Father,
We praise You for who You are and the many ways You care for us. There are times when we face mountains in our lives and we need Your help. We know You wait for us to seek You with all our heart and scripture assures us we will find You there. We will find peace in Your love and care. I pray for a friend today who is faced with a difficult decision, or uncertainties is their season of life. Would you, out of your generous grace, make Yourself known to my friend today. Thank You for being willing to provide what we need in times of uncertainty. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.
If this devotion has spoken to you, I would love to hear how by leaving a comment below or emailing me tracyarntzen@gmail.com.