Episode #318 Learning to Trust God Daily – Everyday Awake

Hey friends, have you ever noticed before how most of life doesn't happen at the beginning or the end? It happens in the middle. The waiting, the working, the wondering if anything is actually gonna change. The middle is where faith gets tested and trust gets shaped. I've never loved the middle. I know, surprise, surprise. I like plans and outcomes and clear next steps. But the middle, it feels like an unfinished sentence, and yet that's usually where God does his deepest work.

A few years ago, our family was walking through a really long season that wouldn't move faster, no matter how hard I prayed. Every prayer felt like an echo just bouncing back to me. Every day looked the same. I wanted closure and God offered consistency. Looking back, as is often the case, I can see it. I can see how he was caring for us in the middle places. He was feeding me daily, and I just didn't know yet that that is what eating manna feels like.

God offers manna to the Israelites in Exodus 16, and I'm gonna read for you a few of the verses from this chapter where God is telling them this through Moses. The people are complaining, they're hungry: “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day…”

And he says in verse four of that chapter, “… that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” (Exodus 16:4)

On the sixth day, they can prepare what they bring in and it will be twice as much 'cause God's gonna provide for the Sabbath.

And in verse 19 it says, “And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.”

But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank.” (Exodus 16:19)

Now, Israel was a newly freed people from slavery in Egypt, but they were still learning how to live as God's people. They wanted security in the form of a stockpile, and instead God offered them rhythm. Every sunrise was another chance to trust that God would show up again. The wilderness became their classroom for dependence.

Now, historically, manna wasn't just food, it was formation. It trained this nation to believe in God's steady goodness rather than their own control. And theologically, it points forward to Jesus, our true bread from heaven who still feeds us one day at a time. As I've been preparing for this episode, I've been reflecting on that. Maybe that's what faith looks like in the middle. Receiving grace for today and trusting that tomorrow will have its own. Maybe God doesn't rush the middle because he has such good purposes for it, because the middle is where relationship grows roots.

You might not see the full picture yet. I know there's prayers in my life where I don't see the full picture yet either. That doesn't mean we're lost. That means we're learning to receive God's daily bread. God's presence isn't waiting at the end of this season or this life's chapter.

He is the one walking you through it. And so here's a question that you can take to God today and ask him what else he will share with you:

God, what are you providing for me today that I might overlook if I'm focused on tomorrow?

I'm so excited for what he wants to share with you.

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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