“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.’”
— Exodus 16:4 (NIV)
The Mountain of Logistics
The list feels endless, doesn’t it?
Find a job. Open a bank account. Figure out the bus system. Make an appointment. Enroll the kids. Find a grocery store that sells that one ingredient that tastes like home.
The sheer logistics of building a new life can feel like standing at the base of an impossibly tall mountain. It’s a wilderness of needs, and each one screams for your attention. In these moments, our core question echoes the Israelites in the desert: How will I survive here?
The Daily Portion
God’s answer to them is His answer to us. He didn’t give them a detailed five-year plan or a map to a promised grocery store. He gave them manna.
Think about this strange provision. It wasn’t what they expected. It came from an unlikely source – the sky. It was just enough for the day, forcing them to trust that more would come the next day.
We often look for God’s provision in a lump sum: the perfect job, a fully-formed community, instant fluency in a new language. But more often than not, God provides for us in manna. He gives us daily bread.
Recognizing Today’s Manna
Today’s manna might not be the career you want, but the courage to send one more application. It might not be a new best friend, but a kind smile from a stranger in the checkout line. It might be the sudden recollection of a specific word you needed for a form.
Our challenge, in this new wilderness, is to train our eyes to see the manna. When we are overwhelmed by the enormous needs of tomorrow, we can miss the small, faithful provisions of today.
The same God who rained down bread on a desperate people in the desert is your provider today. He sees your list. Trust Him for the next step.
🛡️ The Diaspora Challenge
Action steps for your journey today.
- Name the Heavy Needs: What are the top two needs weighing on your heart? Tell God honestly.
- Start a “Manna List”: At the end of your day, before you go to sleep, write down one thing God provided today. It can be physical (a meal), emotional (peace), or relational (a text).
- The Shift: Train your brain to look for provision rather than lack.
🙏 A Prayer for Daily Bread
Lord, I confess that I am overwhelmed by all that I need. My eyes are fixed on the mountain of tomorrow’s worries. Thank You for the promise that You are a God of daily provision. Forgive me for doubting Your care. Grant me the faith to see the manna You have already placed in my path today. Amen.
This is Day 2 of The Diaspora Devotional by Andrew Airahuobhor. [Get the full 30-Day Collection Here]