Morning sickness was brutal with my second pregnancy. The nausea I felt lasted well into the day, and we found the best way to combat it was to keep eating... good stuff like protein, meats, eggs, cheese, and the like.
But alas, I found myself in the least likely place on a warm Saturday morning, wandering around our friends’ neighborhood with my two-year-old son, in the middle of our three-week homestay. Our friends, who had so graciously opened their homes and their lives to host us, were at work, along with my husband.
A walk through the cluster of homes to the small neighborhood store revealed a selection of sugary snacks that I knew would not satisfy the growing nausea in my belly. After wandering aimlessly for a few minutes, we settled into a nearby home for some hot sweet tea and a visit.
As we sipped our tea, our new friend signaled to a large sack at the back corner of the room and asked if I’d like a snack. As she reached into the bag and its contents were revealed, I sat in utter disbelief.
Allow me to set the background a bit: remember I’m a pregnant woman in need of protein. I’ve been to the store. There’s nothing but sugary sweets to be had there. I’m not even living in my own home at this point. Locals don’t have refrigerators stocked with meats, cheeses, and eggs. I don’t have transportation to get to a bigger store.
But she offered me peanuts. Perfectly out of their shells, salted, yummy, protein-filled peanuts!
And let me tell you, there couldn’t have been a better snack in the world for my pregnant belly at that moment than those peanuts! I truly believe God led me to that house, to that very woman who just so “happened” to sell those peanuts (which aren’t very common in our country!) and was kind enough to offer them to me!
Even young lions suffer hunger. But we who fear the Lord lack no good thing. His nourishment is waiting as we take refuge in Him.
What is one area where you are feeling malnourished today? How can you practically take refuge in the Lord in response to your need?
In my current season, I am feeling a loss of being valued, due to a change in ministry and a resulting struggle with identity. I am learning to run to the Lord as my refuge, being honest with Him about my desperate need for validation. In Him, I have found that my deepest needs are already met—a Father who loves me unconditionally (Romans 8:35, 37-39), values me as a daughter who reflects His glory (Ephesians 2:10), and sees me and cares for me in my deepest moments of need (1 Peter 5:7).