A few weeks ago, my mind was stirring with thoughts about parenthood one night — feeling hungry for wisdom and discernment, full of the desire to get it right and know what I need to know in order to partner with my husband and raise our children well. It occurred to me that somewhere down the line — a good twenty years from now, perhaps — I will look back at now and think about things that I wish I had known now, then.

Did that just make sense?

I prayed and asked the Lord, “Lord will you tell me those things now? I want to know the things now that I will wish I had known in the days ahead.”

And the thought reminded me of a different version of myself, from several years ago. The me that would’ve heard an amazing person give an incredibly inspirational message at a conference, and would’ve thought “If I could just hang out with that person once, for half an hour…I’d know my next step. It would change the course of my life.”

Have you ever wished you could rub a magic lamp or wave a wand and see the big picture? That you could look ten years into the future and then twenty and thirty?

As I brought these thoughts to the Lord and pondered them for a while, I realised that He instructs us to ask for our daily bread. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow. He says each day has enough trouble of its own.

I sensed Him gently reminding me that I can trust Him that I’ll have what I need when I need it. Whether it’s a simple loaf of bread to feed my family, or the wisdom and discernment necessary to guide one of our kids down the right path, as I continue walking with Him, I can trust Him. I may not have all the answers right now, but as a one song writer once put it,

You can’t always get what ya want…but ya get whatcha neeeed….

I’ve been reminding and re-reminding myself of this simple promise:

For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth {come} knowledge and understanding. {Prov. 2:3-6}

Though I’m aware that there are no paths in my life that I’ll walk perfectly, and while I’m thankful that it is the goodness of God that I can daily count on Grace, still I’m encouraged that with the help of God, we can run the race well.

The Lord gives wisdom, and He provides our daily bread. And perhaps we’re instructed to stay in step with His Spirit because we need to take life as it comes, just one step, one day at a time.

xCC