Real Hope: Abundant ProvisionSample

Breath

Breathe. Breathe in. Deeply. Slowly. Hold for a moment, and then slowly, calmly breathe out. So good. Every single life-giving breath, from a relaxed yawn to that next quick gasp of air as you exercise. We are so dependent on air. The average person can hold their breath for 30–90 seconds before surging with desperation to expel the old air and suck in a fresh 500 millilitres of new air.

If Job 12:10 was the only information we had about God, that He supplied us with the life-giving air we breathe, this God would be very worthy of our continued praise, honour and worship – with every single breath. Without this God, we would quickly perish. If we tried to go it alone without this God’s provision, we would either pass out, or give up with an uncontrollable heaving of our lungs for air. This God blesses us all abundantly by providing our every breath!

We know that this is not the whole story, but a part of the story that is often missed. All that we have, everything we are, is a blessing from God. We are completely and totally dependent on Him – whether we choose to follow Him or not. Again, if we stop here, it is even clearer that the abundance of God’s provision and blessing is well beyond our ability to comprehend or match.

But still, we know there is more. Despite our dependence on God, we thought we could make it on our own. How does God respond? He blesses us – at great cost to Himself – by offering us forgiveness and relationship with Him, through Jesus. I can’t remember the last time I thanked God for a breath. I should.

Written AARON WRIGHT