How do you tell a child God loves them yet do not fill their stomach? I know, I know “…man does not live on bread alone…” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV, emphasis added). But as I was thinking and meditating on that question and verse the word alone jumped out at me. To me there is a lesson to be learned here…we need bread (food) to live, surprised!?
You may already know that from basic science of the human body… food = energy. If I need food then how can I overlook those who aren’t getting food? For me it was very easy in the States where any type of food is available 24/7. It was easy to be obsessed with food – what will I eat, how much will I eat, how little will I eat, am I eating too much, am I eating too little, where will I eat, when will I eat, when will I eat again…I think you get the idea. It was easy to think everyone, everywhere had enough food.
Tala is just one small speck in this world, but it’s the speck on the globe where God has called Chuck and I to live. Living here I’m finding it easier to see those who do not have even their basic needs being met. Are there more people here than in the States who are going hungry, absolutely. But even being surrounded by needs I find I can close my eyes to it…that selfish, wicked heart rears its ugly head. God always finds a way though to open my eyes to the need He wants me to see and whether I am able to help or not I say a prayer to our Heavenly Father because I know:
- “the LORD will hear when I call to him“, He will “be merciful to me and hear my prayer“, “You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” – Psalm
As it says in Brandon Heath’s song:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
I believe we can all open our eyes, no matter where we live, and allow God to show us what He wants each of us to see and how He wants each of us to respond.