Poverty brings us to a place of need. An impoverished state, whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, or materially, speaks of a great need. Need drives people to hold on to anything that could sustain and provide comfort and solution. Such condition may be shunned or even bring shame to many, but being poor has its purpose. It trains us the value of reliance and that we are never our own gods and never in control of life.
I grew up in a family with parents who are middle income earners. My Papang and Mamang were both public school teachers. They were sickly too because both of them suffered from bronchial asthma. Their sickness demanded huge expenses in medicines and my mother was intermittently being admitted to the hospital. I am an only child, though, they were able to provide the basic needs, we did experience lack of material things and even choosing a course to take in college meant enrolling in a course which they found affordable to pay for. I did not experience bounty in many things but I also had not experience a time when we had nothing to eat. This is the life of a middle income family. We are somewhere in between but with some touch of experience of what poverty means.
That is my life, but not with so many others around us and around the world. Many do not have enough food on the table or a warm house to sleep in. It affects not only our own life but even the nation as a whole. People’s state of living in a country influences economic progress. But there is also the poverty of the mind and of the spirit that also ravish people around the world. God cares for all of these. Whatever kind of poverty we experience, God sees our needs and He provides.
“Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.”
– Luke 12:29-31 (WEB)
God delights to bless His people. Ever since God created us, His will is to bless us with a life of joy and abundance. Though, this picture of joy and abundance may run a course that is different from our earthly understanding for God do not mean that to be an eternal bliss of material abundance. God is concerned with everything in our life but He gives prime importance in the immaterial and the eternal. Our character and our soul are precious to God that He would always lead us to a path that enriches, trains, and blesses our way of thinking to be more like Him even when it means that we could go through troubles, trials, and difficulties in life.
The truth that God’s will is to bless us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, meant that He is a Father who is ready to hear our cries. When we are strickened by poverty in flesh or spirit, who do we call for help?
The people of Israel experienced both kinds of poverty — material poverty and spiritual poverty. Once again, the people sinned against God and God handed them over to the Midianites (Joshua 6). The people who did not turn to God in their poor spiritual state and who could not even feel and realize how destitute their condition was before God after serving and worshipping the god of the Amorites, suddenly felt the need to cry out to God only when they were materially miserable. They were driven to utter poverty that everything they had, food and livestocks, were all plundered and destroyed by the Midianites. So, they cried out to God for help again (Judges 6:7).
“They encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza. They left no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep, ox, or donkey. For they came up with their livestock and their tents. They came in as locusts for multitude. Both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it. Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried to Yahweh.”
– Judges 6:4-6 (WEB)
We could see how human thinking works in this situation. Many times, we could be more concerned of the material prosperity and status than our very own miserable state of disobedience to God. It is not that God cares more for one than the other. He is our mighty and loving Father who cares for our life both physically and spiritually. All these matter to Him. He saves and provides out of His good will for us. But, we should be renewed in our minds and we should be setting our minds on things that are above and not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2) for eternal things have greater consequences and they are lasting than the material possessions we have.
Truly, poverty drives us to cry for help. May every form of poverty drives us to call to God for help. In this we could also realize the kind of love and mercy God gives to those who cry to Him for help. The sinful Israel received God’s painful rebuke.
“Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of bondage. I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land. I said to you, “I am Yahweh your God. You shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not listened to my voice.’ ”
– Judges 6:8-10 (WEB)
Isn’t that when we are in our lowest state, in our most impoverished state as Israel had been during the oppression of Medianites, that we are convicted of God and corrected by Him through His Spirit? God uses miserable situation to remind us and teach us His ways. Yet, at the same time, He does not leave us alone or leave us without help. He answers our cry and helps us in ways we could not even fully understand. For Israel, He heard their cries of help and again sent another judge to help them (Judges 6:7-14).
God does not turn away His face to those who cry to Him in surrender. His will is to bless and He delights in blessing His children. But, may we call to God not only when we are driven by misery of lack in material prosperity but much more when our souls are poverty-strickened and in need of a Savior who will redeem and renew us. Anything we lack, God shall provide. He is our Father, who supplies all things we need, but we should seek Him first, make Him our personal Shepherd, and all things shall be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).
“Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.”
– Psalms 23:1 (WEB)
Life Hub Inspirations 
Deborah, your personal testimony is heartfelt and I appreciate you sharing these humbled circumstances that you and your parents were sustaining through by the Grace and Love of God through and by your Faith in Jesus, which made it possible to take on the challenges and achieve relief as well as success, while continually doing His will. I can identify somewhat with your parents hardship with regard to that health issue, as I too for a period of time suffered with an Asthma COPD like illness from a severe injury to my pulmonary system caused by an industrial chemical workplace accident, which left me struggling with both asthma like relapses and bronchial pneumonia. I was never a smoker and had always been interested in living naturally and taking care of the body God gave me for my time on this earth; so I was blessed to eventually through several years of dealing with this illness and visits to doctors while taking continuous medications, such as antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory medication, and, using rescue inhalers for relief. I eventually regained my pulmonary stability that I had before the injury and weaned myself off all medications; now using only homeopathic remedies for maintenance. I also was blessed to have the ability to fight the workers injury case after I fired my lawyer without any further assistance from any lawyers, because of my ability in sciences from my childhood on and my capability to reason out what the facts and truth were in presenting my case before the judge over a three year period; I subsequently succeeded as the judge later stated, “in doing as well or better than any lawyers could have done for me!”
But, I truly believe I had such a positive conclusion to my legal case and actual health, because, God made sure I had a wonderful doctor who wasn’t owned by the system and was willing to stand up for an average citizen worker in a “political case,” and, this along with my having the only judge in that court system who would allow me to defend my own case. So, I mention this because I believe I’m a better off person for having had to suffer and go through these trials just like your parents and you had to do also!
This essay I posted a few days ago is something that I think pertains to these types of challenges we all face at some time in our lives and I think, that like you said, if we maintain our faith and hope in our Lord Jesus we are going to be rewarded, and at least get through those difficult times while gaining so much inner spiritual strength which grows our faith exponentially, while bringing us yet closer to our Savior!
You made this clear when you stated this. “Whatever kind of poverty we experience, God sees our needs and He provides.”
“Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.”
– Luke 12:29-31 (WEB
You further stated so wisely this!
“God is concerned with everything in our life but He gives prime importance in the inmaterial and the eternal. Our character and our soul are precious in to God that He would always lead us to a path that enriches, trains, and blesses our way of thinking to be more like Him even when it means that we could go through troubles, trials, and difficulties in life.” “But we should seek Him first, make Him our personal Shepherd, and all things shall be added unto us.” (Matthew 6:33).
All I can add for now to this fine insight you provided is this.
“2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:2, 3, 4
God bless you and your family!
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence
🙏🕊✝️🕊🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Praise the Lord for sharing this to me. This is a great encouragement. And it is true how our suffering makes us see clearer the grace of God and His hand working in our affairs as He did to you with your legal matters and health issues. That is just so amazing to know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deborah, I’m honored to share this and anything I can offer to be of any inspirational or supportive value to you and your family anytime at all! I’m indeed moved by your story and I’m thankful you were brave enough and following God’s will so well to do so! I’ve always been a ore private person up till a few years back in this Social Media and in my community life I’ve always been outgoing and friendly enough but not a person that wants or needs to broadcast my personal circumstances to the neighbors or the public at large I preferred to keep a low profile and only had LinkedIn for about ten years which was for work purposes only then I made it a full social media and a writing blogs kind of platform like my current Word Press but that got me shut down and banned from that platform, my conservative mindset got the staff on my case!
I tried Twitter and had some big name news reporters and other famous people following but I don’t hold back well enough like they do to avoid the wrath of the watchdogs and didn’t make it more than two years if that. Never wanted Facebook and mainly because I saw into Zuckerberg some things I really don’t like or trust and see him as a very shady character! So if I’m wrong I’m sorry but I don’t need his services anyway! I only really used my email to communicate with an extended circle of contacts and friends but now I like that Word Press has worked out so well and I get to express my faith first of all, and then any nifty ideas or writing experiments I might try at times! But, the best part of I is getting to know a few jewels of a person’s like you, that have such great faith in our Lord and live such basic and charmingly modest or even poor humble lives, not chasing rainbows or the glitter of the material world and are actually working to make a difference in this very sick and degenerating rampantly world of sin and temptations. But, the silver lining I’m seeing is that there are many people waking up too. Still for those that awaken there are many going over the edge and that is sad so I pray that the time between now and the second Coming is contracted greatly if God can so will it that way; to spare the horrors approaching on the horizon!
No matter what I know I plan to be with our Lord and all the good of the universe in heaven if I can just not mess up too bad; so I want to keep improving even if in tiny increments as long as I’m pleasing our Father in Heaven showing and proving to Him that I’m sorry for any of my failures and that I understand what is most important!
Yes Deborah, I could spend some time eventually and explain in detail the miraculous things that happened and how nights I would not sleep at all with a very sick pulmonary system and would be working on my legal brief or motions that I would file first thing in the morning at the court and argue my case, but, it was a big challenge and I had no choice but do or die so I pushed harder to hang in there and God kept giving me incentives and blessings to make it!
Not sure if you saw this but I will send it anyway. I know even if you have seen it you will like the read again and the music as much as I like it by Gordon Lightfoot!
Enjoy and keep in touch if you like use my email anytime if you like!
lmor3@aol.com
https://lawrencemorra.com/2020/02/22/a-passing-ship/
https://lawrencemorra.com/2019/11/07/he-alone-is-the-way-the-path-and-the-life-and-none-come-to-the-father-but-by-the-son/
God bless you!
Lawrence
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand. We have different takes on social and different sites. Where we are most comfortable and where could flourish, as God leads us, that is where we should be. I too am not so open with personal matters and only share as much as I could.
Will read the link you sent soon. Have a blessed day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry for the long delay to respond to your very worthy comment Sister Deborah!
We see eye to eye in these matters of great importance and sadly many do not and will not listen or avoid admitting and fully seeing the God’s Honest Truth, His Truth; right in their faces!
But I grow weary of people in general because as we can plainly see over the last two years multitudes were so easily led and still are willing to follow the crooked “Ways of the World” which are now “absolutely unequivocally evil ways” and they still don’t resist the lies and seek “God’s Absolute Truth” in this End Time period! I can only expend so much time and energy and why would I want to waste it on people that have eyes and do not see with them, and have ears but will not listen! I shake the dust from my sandals, at the point when it is obvious I waste my precious pearls that God has bestowed upon me; into the mire and trash of the world!
Deborah, maybe this newest posting will shed light on my honest perspective, even more than already has been possible I hope and pray!
https://lawrencemorra.com/2022/01/22/hey-christians-do-you-appreciate-your-religious-freedom-if-so-stand-and-fight-for-it/
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are people who are blind to the grace of God and His truth but we should not be weary of praying for them and leading them to have even a glimpse of the truth in Jesus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As my mother always stated correctly as I see it; to pray for everyone but we can’t be foolish and think we’re required to take unnecessary chances and get directly involved in many of the very out of control situations or feel we can turn our backs and trust anyone! I actually did that a couple of times and got the worst stab in the back in my life, because I was foolish; so I’m like tempered steel now, it takes a lot for any enemy or those who don’t love Jesus to put one over on me, and I think God allowed these hard lessons to happen to me only to prepare and shape me for what is ahead; He is after all the Master Potter! But now I know better, so I will not make those same mistakes again. And the world is a very dangerous or at times in some ways; horrible place now and we can never toss caution to the wind!
Thank you for the blessed thoughts and insights!
God bless you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This side of thought, I also agree. We should know how to balance and to be careful as well. 👍 we need God’s discerment to weigh things out and not to be gullible with the wicked ways of the world.
Innocent as a doves but wise as serpents.
“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” – Matthew 10:16
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deborah Yes! Thank you very much! You’ve just explained perfectly in my eyes and heart as I see quite clearly what you have said in reference to what I was trying to convey, which I was taught as a young fellow by Mom! Of course you did do such a fine job with this task at hand because of the great Teacher that you are! 👍
That is the Scriptural verse that nails it down succinctly and if I had wanted to come up with a more concise one I couldn’t! The wicked “Ways of The World” is where and how the evil one manipulates and sets his snares for those amongst us who do not take heed; so as you said, “not to be gullible with the wicked ways of the world!”
It isn’t enough to discern because that is only the start of our task ahead of us, which is to put into action and use properly the tools and insights that are provided to us through the Holy Spirit! Amen.
Thank you!
🙏💗 ✝️ 💗🙏 💞🌷❤🌹🌈🌞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you too. God bless you always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
God bless and thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for this honest and touching post Deborah. In my past I lived on little and even went hungry sometimes, but in these times God provided and gave me great hope in Him. God bless you sister.
LikeLike
Poverty is glaring here in our country. If only our government would prioritize the plight of the needy but no, their concentration is “pangungurakot”. With God’s grace, we will overcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True Ma’am. Even our health system is too costly for us.
LikeLike
💜 Goddess wrote The Ten Commandments by Communicating with Bro Moses and Bro Jesu spoke of the non-humans like the birds who lack for nothing then He chased ALL the greedy money 💰 lenders out of the temple EveryOne; as humans our problem is reliance on money 💰 and materialism instead of the teachings of Christ EveryBody, please WAKE ⏰ UP!!! if YOU!!! Believe in “God” then He WILL!!! Provide and YOU!!! Don’t NEED!!! to Chase 🎶 The Mammon of The Wind
…💛💚💙…
LikeLiked by 1 person
True.. thank you for your insight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💜 YOU!!! ARE Most Welcome SupaSoulSis; it’s Crystal 🔮 Clear Clarity that Constantine Corrupted The Bible early AD in a MisGuided Attempt to Save The Mocked Christians from Being Thrown To The Lions in To The Roman AmphiTheatres…meanwhile My Marvellous Mom 👩 has switched from The Good News Bible to Saint James; funny really, so many versions of The Bible, Religions and Cultures
…💛💚💙…
LikeLiked by 1 person
💜 Bro Jesu had 12 Sister Disciples led by His Wife Mary Magdalena EveryOne; the Dead Sea 🌊 Scrolls 📜 point to that EveryBody
…💛💚💙…
LikeLike
This made me realize one thing; poreso gale yo always tan pray antes (maskin wrong el way, haha) kay bien pobre gad kme, akel ba nuay gad yo otro kun ken pwd pdi ayuda, knel Senyor lng. And realizing this made me feel very thankful, bueno ylng pobre gad kme de una (hnd man kme rico ara pero hnd ta gad igual de una maskin pra kome nuay gyd) ya konose yo knel Real Senyor.❤️❤️❤️ Sad but true, manada gayod ta atraka lng knel Senyor c ta sinti ya difisil. This further reminds me to be more careful as a parent. Kame as parents, we really pledge to give our best for our kids, maybe partly because we know exactly how it feels to have none. We will pamper them with love and all the things they need. But years ago, we realize that we should watch out our parenting style. Since we desired that our kids would one day have the same faith as ours, we introduced to them Jesus in our house, in all that we do. When they need something, we would remind them to ask Jesus for it, when they see we bought something like new appliance, we tell them that we ask it from Jesus, when we have failures, we let them hear that we ask Jesus for forgiveness and telling them to do the same. We may not be perfect as parents, but we always try our best. And it is our prayer that the kids would long for Jesus even when they are not in poverty.
Very nice post mam debs.. I read it twice.hehe yesterday afternoon and today. Thank you for this passage. ❤️❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could really relate with what you say here Ma’am Aubrey. Because we experienced hardship before we wanted our children to have better life now, but at the same time, we thank God, because He convicts us to balance out by not giving in to all of their wants and to always ground them that in the faith by teaching them that all blessings, including material things, come from God. Ansina tamen kame ta ase con di amon dos diutay aqui. Hehe. Pirmi, si cosa man request, abla kame pray anay se para dale si Lord. 🥰 God is truly amazing.
LikeLike
thanks 👍👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you too.
LikeLiked by 1 person