Limiting God to Your Needs

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand You save me.

Psalm 138:7 (NIV)

According to the Bible, God promises to care for His children and meet their needs. Many limit God's promise to what they desire to receive from Him. As long as God can satisfy their personal desires, His promise holds. But as soon as they don't receive what they ask for, they conclude that God doesn't take their needs into account. Thus, they limit God in what He can do for them. God's promise goes beyond what we hope or expect from Him. Often, He fulfills His promise without our having the slightest idea of what He has done.

The psalmist was assured that God was protecting him, that He was preserving his life from the threats of his enemies. He didn't always know everything God was doing for him, but he trusted in His promises and His interventions in his life, even those of which he was unaware. David gives us a striking example of his faith in God's promise to watch over him when he says, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Like David, simply trust God beyond your personal needs and entrust everything to Him. This doesn't mean you shouldn't entrust your needs to Him. Of course, you can share your worries with Him. But once you do, you won't have to worry. Rest assured that He will intervene on your behalf, for, unbeknownst to you, He does far more than you can imagine. He keeps you healthy, He brings you joy and comfort in the midst of your distress, and when you travel, you don't know how many times He intervenes to save you from danger.

May the grace and peace of God be with you all.