I cannot get through this day…this hour…this minute…

How many times have these words gone through my mind? So many times when I didn’t think I could get through the task ahead of me, nor did I want to. I couldn’t think of an elaborate prayer; I didn’t even know what or how to pray. That’s when I became most thankful that Jesus put the words right into my mouth: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). This short phrase from the Lord’s Prayer was sometimes all I could muster. 

There is so much to be gained from these seven words! 

First, Jesus was showing his disciples that we can expect God’s provision. And He was not just referring to our next meal! Jesus understood our human frailties because He Himself experienced weariness and sorrow and pain. He knew that the “bread” we are in need of is often just the strength to be held up when we are feeling weak and faint of heart. He knew His Father could provide strength when our human tanks are empty.   

And Jesus’s request was so simple. Just bread – nothing fancy! He didn’t ask God to display huge miracles or produce grand glorious acts. He didn’t even ask for any one thing specifically. Sure, there are times when I am praying for a certain specific need. But sometimes we find ourselves at a place where we aren’t even sure what to ask for. What a relief that we don’t need to. God knows exactly what our needs are.“Your father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matt. 6:8)  Jesus trusted that God knew and would provide exactly what He needed.

And lastly, Jesus prayed for provision for one day. He wasn’t concerned about the things coming up next week and next year. He wasn’t focused on all the fears of the future. He prayed for God to supply what was needed to get through just that day. Maybe God made days in 24-hour periods because He knew that chunk of time was all we could handle! Like the manna God provided for the Israelites each day in the wilderness, God provides sustenance daily. When the Israelites tried to save up manna for the next day, it went bad and was inedible. God wanted them to rely on him each and every day, and He wants us to turn to Him daily, too. ”His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

For many months after Lexi passed away, life was just so hard. Thinking back, I remember one day in particular crying out to God, “I just can’t do this!” Then I was hit with the sudden realization (no doubt the Holy Spirit) that I WAS doing it. I was somehow getting up, getting out of bed every morning, getting my kids fed and clothed, getting to work, and going through my day. Maybe it was done through great pain and with much effort, but I was somehow getting through. Sometimes when we stop and look back, we are amazed at how God has indeed provided just exactly what we needed every single day, even the tough ones. For me, sometimes it was a person crossing my path who helped me in an unexpected way. Sometimes a note or kind gesture lifted my spirits. Maybe something difficult fell into place more easily than I expected, or a situation randomly took a turn for the better. But when I stopped to think about it, I had gotten through some really hard things. Through my daily serving of “bread,” I was surviving!

Lord, please supply me bread for this day. Give me what I need so that I can be the person you want me to be and accomplish what you have set before me on this day.