Note from the editor — scroll down for more info on Christy! — Jennifer
It’s been over a year since I moved to Texas for my husband’s graduate school. It has, quite possibly, been the most challenging year of my life. I was unemployed for four months, had my health decline significantly, and had to create a new community all while adjusting to my husband being gone to study more often than not. During all of this, my anthem has become, “Give us this day, our daily bread.”
I always thought of “Daily Bread” as God materially providing for us. This season showed me this section of the Lord’s Prayer in a new light. As the early days of our move crept on, I struggled with knowing what I was supposed to do. I felt helpless without a job and without any friends. This was when I started praying this prayer over my day, and realized that God provided my emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical daily bread. I had no idea what was in the future, but I could rest in what God had in front of me for that day. I called some employers, applied for jobs, called doctors, and spent a lot of time in prayer. That was my Daily Bread. I didn’t have to worry about what I would do tomorrow or the next day. God gave me what I needed to do in that moment. And that was enough.
When I feel anxious about the future, I rest on this promise. God took care of me during that time. It wasn’t easy, but I had to be content with my Daily Bread. Not my weekly bread, or my five-year-plan bread, but my Daily Bread. Of course, His plan turned out much better than mine. During my season of unemployment, I was able to visit family and go to Disney World, which wouldn’t have been a possibility if I had a job. When I finally got a job, I thought it was a temporary solution, as it wasn’t what I had planned on doing. But it ended up being a perfect fit for this season. Had I gotten what I wanted instead of just trusting what God had put in front of me on any particular day, I would have missed out on so many blessings.
God has a plan. God will provide what I need for that day, in that moment. Trusting God to provide my Daily Bread is more than just trusting that I will have food to eat. It is trusing that I will have all my needs met in Christ. My job is just to “Be still and know that [He] is God” (Psalm 46:10). Learning how to turn to God for my Daily Bread has blessed me tremendously. I invite you to revisit the Lord’s Prayer, specifically this section of asking and trusting Him to give you your daily bread, with new eyes, and see what the Lord has for you.
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ABOUT CHRISTY RIVERA!
Where exactly are you guys? We’re in McAllen, TX. It’s basically the most southern part of Texas.
What’s your husband’s program? He is studying to be a Physician Assistant at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
Are you working now? Doing what? I’m currently working as a special education aide at a Middle School. The big blessing in that I had all summer to try to figure out my health issues.
May I identify the illness? Any treatment? Symptoms? I’m doing a lot better now. This part is a little complicated. I am diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, although it isn’t currently active. I have SIBO (which isn’t really recognized by traditional docs) and I had hormonal imbalances. I believe my weird symptoms were caused by Acid Reflux. Basically, I felt like I was going to pass out all the time. I was very weak, nauseous constantly, and dizzy. I’ve kind of self-treated it through supplements and using a naturopath. But the other ideas for writing pieces I have are more directly related to being sick, so maybe I’ll touch on that more later.
Please do, Christy. I know you’re not alone in dealing with illness, chronic illness.
Are you two there for a set amount of time? We will be here for sure until December 2020 when he graduates. We are hoping to move back, but if he got a great job offer here, we might stay for a year to save up money. The cost of living is amazing here. We’re open to wherever God takes us.
How long have you been married? A little over 2 years
Thank you!
