During one of our outings we were visiting a family to see the process of building a pit latrine. While we were there, there was a discussion about the family participating in an economic development program, which apparently the family had declined because, as the mama put it, “God will provide.”
I was instantly angry. Why though? As a person in relationship with G-d shouldn’t I have faith that He will provide for this family and their situation?
The answer came in quite an unexpected way later that day. One of the current Volunteers was giving a talk and brought up that she had faced this same issue on several occasions. She described what another mama had told her when she was venting her frustrations, “Tell them this; It is written that God work for 6 days and THEN on the 7th day he rested.”
We should not expect that because we have faith in G-d that we will be free of problems, or that by behaving “properly” things will change for us. Yes, G-d does provide but He isn’t a wish dispenser; pray and he gives you everything that you asked for. G-d doesn’t work like that, and often he is more subtle, simply giving us an opportunity to work to achieve what we need.
It also works the other way. Possibly we see our problem and simply working really hard on it, maybe we will fix it on our own. However, even if we are able to another will inevitably pop up and take it’s place. It is meaningless to try (as Ecclesiastes states readily) if we are doing it on our own, by our own power. We need him still, even if it is simply for the peace that surpasses understanding.
It comes full circle. Faith without works is dead, but works without faith is equally meaningless.
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