”Mom, will they ever find a cure for diabetes?” My ten-year-old boy’s voice trembles like he’s never asked a more important question. “And if they do, will it happen before I grow up?”
This disease has “ruined his life,” he tells me. And he wants to know–needs to know–if it will really last all his tomorrows.
I understand my sweet boy’s question, but I try to steer him a different direction. A path I need to follow too.
Recently, I taught my Bible class on King Jehoiachin. Maybe not the most well-known Old Testament king. I sure didn’t know much about him.
I found out that he was the last king of Judah before God’s judgment on their sin finally fell. Brutal Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. The temple and its treasures, gone. It seemed the end of the story.
And in fact as the book of 2 Kings closes, all seems lost–except for the last paragraph.
And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put off his prison garments. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table, and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.
(2 Kings 25:27-30 ESV)
So much here, I could write a book, but I’ll focus on one thing.
That last line.
And for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, according to his daily needs, as long as he lived.
Daily! Takes us right back to when God met the Israelites’ daily needs by providing manna in the wilderness. During that time, God’s children were also being punished. Then, like now with the exile, even in their judgment, God’s grace ruled.
Amazingly, he didn’t just provide. He provided daily for the Israelites in the wilderness. He provided daily for King Jehoiachin. And he provides daily for me. For my son.
Daily bread, daily comfort, daily strength, daily presence, daily love.
Do not worry about tomorrow… (Matt. 6:34)
I tug my sweet diabetic boy into my arms. “I know it’s hard not knowing, honey, but I can’t see what will happen in your tomorrows. I do know God is taking care of you today. He’s with you as you get your shots and through your lows and highs. He’s with you, now. Today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
He wraps his boy arms around me, tucks his head into that mom-spot between the neck and shoulders. “I don’t think I can stop worrying, mom.”
“He’ll help you, sweetie.”
And I know his confession of weakness could be my own.
Help my boy and me, Lord Jesus, to trust your daily care. It is as sure as a king’s allowance. Please grant me grace to rest in your steadfastness, to rest in you.
Remember, friends, he loves you like there’s no tomorrow.
Ocieanna
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