Bad Times at Brook Cherith: Part I-God's Bread Crumbs-Trusting God's Provision

"Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith... I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. The ravens brought him bread and meat morning and evening, and he drank from the brook, until it dried up because there had been no rain in the land. ~1 Kings 17:2-7

Can you imagine eating food brought to you by a bird? I can be particular about making sure my utensils are clean and my food is properly prepared. I'd have a hard time eating something that touched the mouth of a bird, and who knows what else.

What Elijah Teaches Us About Trusting God's Provision

How often do we complain about not having enough, or not having the right kind of things? Do we reject what the Lord gives us because it doesn't meet our standards? Elijah's story is a picture of trusting God's provision even when it looks strange or comes through an unlikely source.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink... Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matt. 6:25-26).

Sadly, we can allow our wants to turn into our needs. This can lead us to believe God is not taking care of our needs. When this happens, we need a change of heart.

As Jesus commands us, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:31-33)

We must be wary that our mindset does not lead us to scorn God's provision because we believe His standard is not sufficient to meet the level of our needs. As Christians, we are supposed to seek after the everlasting and not the vain temporal. God is always teaching us humility while He shows us how much He cares for us in our life circumstances if we open our hearts to realize it.

Always improve the present moment.