In this week’s issue of Soul Food, we are focusing on God being in complete control.

I think we can all attest that money is a touchy subject. It can bring great happiness or great sorrow. Oftentimes in church we hear people talking about financial issues, financial burdens, or requesting prayer about financial problems. There are certain times throughout the year that money being scarce is less than ideal, and those times include; birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries. When these dates roll around often times we would like to spoil the loved one in our life with gifts, but sometimes that is just not possible. What if you weren’t able to provide Christmas for your children, or spouse? It would be very discouraging I’m sure. Let’s read what happened to one family when they had nothing, but God had everything.

This story is an account from a daughter blessing her father and his family around Christmas time.

“My dad, his wife, and son were going through a very tough time a few years ago. They didn’t have any money for the bills due at the end of the month, let alone gifts for their son on Christmas. It was a very discouraging time for them. I often listen to WIBI on the radio, and I heard one time they were having a pay it forward contest. I thought of my dad, and immediately began reading the entry rules, and other people’s stories that had been submitted, and soon enough I was entering my father in the giveaway. After I entered him in the giveaway I placed my hand on the computer screen and prayed “In the name of Jesus I claim this for my dad." Some time passed and then all of a sudden one morning I awoke to a phone call at 7 AM from the radio station. They were calling me to let me know my father had won $3,000, and they were going to overnight the check so that it would arrive in time for them to go Christmas shopping for their son. I think we were all in shock. My dad could not believe what had happened. It, of course, didn’t solve all of their problems, but it was an answer to their prayers. It was a reassurance that God is in control, and He will always show up, and take care of His children.”

Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t receiving immediate results, or someone coming up to you and handing you a one-hundred-dollar bill. God works in mysterious ways, but one thing we should not forget is that GOD WORKS. He worked back in the time of Jesus, and He is working now. He will provide, but it might be so close to a deadline that they have to ship the check overnight to make it there in time. Keep the faith, God will provide.