Trusting God For Abundance

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”   2 Cor 9:8

Most people are not men or women of means.  Financially, I mean.  What with normal living expenses, family, perhaps school,  and mortgage or other debts on top of that, this is an ongoing source of stress for most.  But God is usually teaching something through these trials that He knows we may not learn any other way.  He’s showing us that we still have choices.

But these choices are not centered around finances.

Our choices are: to trust God, or not to trust Him.

To not trust Him means we have to work through this by ourselves and find our own way out of the situation, as maybe we’ve done most of our lives.

To trust Him means we lay this issue down before Him and do only what He sets in front of us.  But sometimes that means we play the waiting game along with the trusting one, because God often doesn’t give our needs ahead of time, nor does He let us know they are coming.  (I wish He did!)

Let me share a recent story.

I’ve latched onto the verse in 2 Cor 9:8 for finances: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”  This has become “my” verse.  Five times the Greek word for “all” is used in different forms : four times as an adjective and once as an adverb.   It really does mean “all” – the totality of something, every instance of something.

Wow – ALL grace, ALWAYS have ALL of what is needed in ALL things, and even abundance for EVERY good work!  Does it get better than that?

I asked God for money.  He fulfilled this verse to me in a different way this summer.

From strawberry season (May) to potato season (digging them now), I’ve been spending many hours a week picking produce for someone who has a large organic garden and couldn’t keep up with it.  In exchange I’ve been able to fill my freezer and some of my canning jars.

I’ve been blessed with strawberries all season, and raspberries both spring and fall.  Then there’s been corn, greens, a few lima beans, tomatoes, green beans, blackberries, cucumbers (pickles), cantaloupe, watermelon (still eating), garlic and onions, a few grapes (plus more that I picked free in another orchard for grape juice), dill, turnip, peppers, potatoes, a sample of dried pink beans, and probably more I can’t think of now.  I feel very squirrel-like!

Throughout this summer I’ve been able to eat out of the garden as well as can and freeze fruit and vegetables.  Fresh corn on the cob, berries, and everything else, every day in season!

It took a lot of my time, probably more than it should have.  However, I’ve enjoyed being outside.  And I’ve had the privilege of being able to share produce with others.

It didn’t dawn on me until a few weeks ago that while I was praying for abundance in finances so I could even give some away, God was giving me abundance in food!  He knew I’d love being outside in the garden, and He chose to fulfill His promise that way now. I did what He set in front of me to do, and came out with enough food and some to share!

No, it wasn’t the financial answer I was hoping for.  But it was His answer at this time.  And not only that, He has kept me viable financially, even though a family crisis.  But that’s another story.

I know you have seen God’s goodness in your life.  Please comment below and share your stories!