Grace Upon Grace

God’s Daily Bread for Our Daily Grind

Admittedly, life is sometimes a daily grind.  Whether we like it or not, life is filled with reoccurring, monotonous tasks that need our attention.  Most days we easily embrace our daily grind.  But other days, our continual responsibilities seem crushing and nearly impossible to endure.  Granted, our daily grind becomes more challenging when chronic pain, disability, suffering, or loss, are involved.  Thankfully, even in these grueling circumstances, God’s Daily Bread for Our Daily Grind is available to us.

Difficult Days

Every other day, my husband, Steve, finds himself in a dark room, hiding from light and sound.  He’s attempting to find relief from his migraine.  Steve’s migraine pattern has evolved over the years to become more and more frequent.  Unfortunately, like clockwork, his every other day pain pattern is embedded and predictable.  Because of chronic pain and isolation, Steve’s daily grind is exceptionally difficult to bear. 

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

In Matthew 6:9-13, we find The Lord’s Prayer, a model for how we should pray.  Give us this day our daily bread is part of that prayer.  Admittedly, bread is a staple and a universal symbol of life. Its life-giving properties are both physical and spiritual.

Throughout my childhood, my mom regularly baked homemade bread.   I remember walking into the house after school and being overwhelmed by the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked bread.  Eagerly, I helped myself to a slice of bread, lathered with butter.  I knew from experience, that the bread would taste delicious!  Similarly, God’s daily bread is also good and nourishing.  It provides energy and strength for my daily needs.  Just like my mom’s bread, it represents something good and sustaining.

In Exodus 16, we find the story of God sending manna from heaven, as the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years.  Each day, fresh manna appeared.  It was good, just for that day.  The next day, a new batch would arrive. Similarly, God’s daily bread arrives for us exactly on cue to meet today’s needs.  Therefore, there’s no reason to worry about tomorrow.  God’s bread comes daily.  It is always fresh and good.

God’s Daily Bread for Our Daily Grind

Thankfully, when our daily grind is too difficult to bear, we don’t have to rely on our own power or determination to get through the day.  God will supply what we need, just when we need it.

Dear Precious Lord, sometimes I wonder how Steve can endure another day of chronic pain.  It is only because of Your Daily Bread for Our Daily Grind that any of us can cope with unpleasant and difficult days.  Thank You, for your life-giving answer for our daily needs.  Amen.

Questions to Consider

1. What daily grind are you struggling with right now?
2. How has God’s daily bread enabled you to handle a challenging day?