daily bread

letting go is simply recognizing and trusting the goodness of our God. it’s letting go of where we want to go and delighting in what He offers us – what He offers us is exactly what we need. how good is it to have a Creator that knows exactly what we need? not too much, not too little. it’s our daily bread, it’s our manna.

         one verse that the Lord has placed on my heart recently is the Lord’s prayer. i find it so incredibly powerful how Jesus, the Son of God, teaches about what to ask for. One thing He says is “Give us each day our daily bread,” (Luke 11:3). not “give us our weekly bread” or “give us our monthly bread.” The Lord’s goodness is found in the present.

         as i read this prayer over and over again i realize i am not supposed to know where i’m headed in life. i’m not supposed to know where i’m going. i’m supposed to delight in what the Lord offers and let go of the worry about where i am headed. He will provide that along the way. each and every day - He will provide.

         letting go isn’t easy but, it’s possible. there’s this image that comes into my mind when thinking about letting go. it’s a poem i wrote to create this image of the Lord providing daily bread.

         there’s this road i know. it’s dark, it’s cold, i don’t know where i am but i know exactly where i am. as i keep driving i feel more comfortable with the place i’m headed. when i arrive i am greeted by a man whose hands are open and gentle. i’ve never seen this man but i recognize Him all too well. He greets me inside with a nice warm meal that is filling and abundant. He invites me to a porch for a cup of tea and a conversation about how i got here. He recognizes that i don’t know where i am, but He greets me as if i’ve already been there a while. He lets me rest in a room he’s already prepared for me as if He was expecting i’d arrive here.

         as the sun rises, along with a light fog covering still the pond in His field, He greets me to gaze upon the beauty of the morning with a nice warm cup in his comforting presence.

         as the slow morning comes to a close, i start ahead on my journey again. only to find myself back on a road i don’t know but arriving back at this man’s comforting place. i fall asleep there every night only to find myself awake every morning in his presence.

         the goodness of God is not knowing our whole journey. this is a part of spiritual formation that i struggle with. God’s goodness is found in his guidance and mercy.

the more i search to know where i am, the less i experience the goodness of God. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:1-6

His goodness and his mercy follow us. He has a plan. a good plan, a strong plan, a plan to guide you in His goodness. He gives us our daily bread. He forms us into people of love. as you go about your journey, keep in mind that Jesus said, “My power is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9. that weakness is our advantage because it opens our availability for God’s goodness to guide us.

-n0tbycayden