I was about eight years old, and the sweltering heat of Italy had gotten to me. My dad had taken us to visit the ruins of old Pompeii, a town of historical renown that had been destroyed by the eruption of the Vesuvius around 79 A.D, but feeling as bad as I did, history was far from my mind. While all I wanted to do was to lie down on a bed, hold onto my tummy, and sleep, I was being forced to walk around in the scorching heat, holding onto the hand of my anxious mother.

As our guide was vividly explaining the drama that had unfolded here, his eyes lit on me. He stopped his script, mid-sentence, and exclaimed: "Siete malato!" He then took me by the hand and dragged me to a field covered with wild flowers, weeds and various grasses. Here he began searching for something, all the while, muttering in Italian. I had no idea what was happening, but when I looked to my mother, something in her eyes told me everything was okay.

All of a sudden, I heard my guide say, "Aha". Then he picked up some kind of weed and asked me to smell it. I did, and instantly I felt better. My energy returned, and my upset stomach calmed. Another half an hour of smelling that herb, and I was completely immersed in what had happened in Pompeii and how the city had been preserved.

What is interesting is that all of the time I was feeling so bad, I was surrounded by herbs that could have cured my suffering. Al I needed was for someone to give me some!

Too often in life we lack some specific necessity. We don't realize that God has already provided for our all of our needs! Our spiritual sickness hinders us from understanding that our Heavenly Daddy is, indeed, our Provider, and He has provided for each of our needs, even before they arise.

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matt 6:30 NIV)

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!" (Luke 12:28-29 NIV)

If we take the time to study the gospels, we will notice that Jesus often uses the expression, "You of little faith!". The first time He uses this term, it is in the context of heavenly providence. We humans tend to prefer to cling to our worries instead of trusting our Heavenly Provider. The problem is, the only thing worrying will do for us is to bring us fear and headache, and most of what we worry about never even occurs. We tend to forget the simple truth that our Heavenly Father always provides!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV)

We are surrounded by His abundance. He is the King of Kings in all of the Universe. To Him belongs every planet, every comet, every galaxy, every resource, every solution to even our tiniest problems. Our possessions are short-lived, but His promises are eternal and true.

His provisions are all around us. Our problem is that we don't realize this fact! How can we even think that our Heavenly Daddy would neglect His own children! This is absurd! "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matt 7:11-12 NIV)

We indeed have little faith if we prefer to worry instead of trusting the One who has our best interest at heart. Maybe this is why we don't impact our society for the Lord. Maybe this is why we live in mediocrity. "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12 NIV)

We tend to forget how good God truly is. All it took was for my guide to recognize my illness and to offer me some herbs, and then I was truly able to enjoy my visit to Pompeii. In the same way, all it takes for us is to trust our Provider to provide. Then we can begin experiencing true living.

It's all about trust!

Do I really want to hear Jesus tell me one day "O you of little faith!"?

Rob Chaffart