As I was thinking about all the marketing materials I need to design and prepare to start my healthy consulting business, I sat down with God and made an observation that it is difficult to hang your shingle out for business when you don’t have transportation. The other observation I made was that it was imprudent to go into people’s houses alone; however, I don’t have the resources to pay someone to be my safety buddy in my new business venture. Scheduling around my husband’s limited weekend schedule could make my prospective clients frustrated enough that they go somewhere else, and giving up what precious time I have with him when he’s away from work is not appealing.

So I simply mentioned to God a few weeks ago that it would help if I had some transportation, and a helper who was interested in what I was doing. I went on my way, knowing that somehow, things would work out.

Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to get together with a good friend of mine to demonstrate some of the testing protocol and instruments I use in my home electromagnetic radiation surveys. We’ve had to re-schedule dinner at her house once already, and last Sunday I caught up with her wanted to confirm our schedule for this month. At the end of our conversation, out of the blue (but not really—who am I kidding?), she suddenly said, “Melody, if you need someone to come with you and carry your equipment around for you, I’d love to help you out.”

And guess what? She has transportation. Ha.

When the providence of God comes and smacks you on the cheek like a big blubbery kiss from your favorite great-aunt, you can’t help but smile and laugh a little. Our God is a great, wonderful, caring God who provides for us in every way. The legacy of Jehovah Jireh comes from Abraham, who obeyed God by taking his son Isaac up to the mountain to kill him, according to God’s direction. Obeying this most difficult and incomprehensible set of instructions, Abraham figured that everything would work out. God would raise his son from the dead, or He would provide another way to fulfill His promise. Along came the ram, and the rest is history. Abraham called the place Jehovah Jireh, “The-Lord-Will-Provide” (Gen 22:14), because God indeed provided.

This kind of unshakable confidence in a provider God seems rare in today’s society. We all want to be self-sufficient, to provide for our own needs, our family’s needs. We don’t like being beholden to others. But there are some things we simply can’t do by ourselves.

I’m currently at a standstill, trying to make plans to build a healthy living retreat for the environmentally ill. I have limited financial resources, no land purchase opportunities to speak of, and no helpful connections to put me in contact with the right people, at the right time, in the right place. I suppose I’ll have to mention in my next garden stroll with my Creator that it would be nice to have some land and allies to build a sanctuary to help others who are suffering.

I’m not worried. Jehovah Jireh’s got my back.