A few months ago, I found myself sitting with Exodus 16. This was new for me because I'm not one who typically reads through an entire chapter like that in one sitting, let alone rereads it again and again. But this time, I couldn't help but feel drawn in... like maybe there was something the Lord was inviting me into.

Turns out, my heart and soul desperately needed something that was in those verses.

Let me give you some context.

In this chapter, the Israelites have just been set free after years and generations of slavery. Now they're in the wilderness, trying to figure out what life looks like next.

As you can imagine, life is starting to look incredibly different for the Israelites. They've just left everything: their homes, their routines, the only life they knew. They've seen miracle after miracle. There's so much to celebrate and so much to be grateful for. But after a while, they start to realize that there are many unknowns. Questions begin to unravel as tiredness, hunger, and fear settle in.

The Israelites start to realize that freedom doesn't look the way they thought it would. Instead of rest and stability, it looks like wandering. And just like that, they start longing for what they left behind.

I relate to that so much because I've been there. I've been the one praying for a change, praying for revival, for freedom, for the Lord to release me from bondage. And although I’ve witnessed those things come to fruition, I've looked back and started to wonder... Maybe it was easier back then. Maybe I shouldn’t have left that. At least back then I had stability. At least then I had a plan. At least then I knew what to expect, even if it was toxic.

And here's what I've come to realize… 

Fear and uncertainty have a way of distorting the past and making it hard to see what's right in front of us. 

Just like the Israelites, I started doubting. I started blaming. I forgot all the good that had brought me here because I was so focused on what I didn't have yet.

And yet even so, God heard me, just as He heard the Israelites. In Exodus 16:11, God says, "I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel."

God had every right to turn away, to get angry, to punish the Israelites. I mean, that's what parents do to ungrateful children, right? And yet, He didn't do any of those things. 

He listened attentively. He cared enough for His people to really notice what was going on and to act on it.

I believe that changes everything. Not just for the Israelites, but for my story and even yours.

Here's the truth: God hears us when we're overwhelmed, when we're scared, when we don't even know what to ask for.

AND He cares enough to act. He moves toward us and provides us with the things we actually need.

For the Israelites, that meant food: meat at night and bread in the morning. He sent them bread from heaven. The Israelites called this bread "manna," which literally means "what is it?" That was their first response when it fell. They couldn't recognize what was happening right in front of them.

In their confusion and desperation, the Israelites prayed for provision, and God provided.

But it wasn't in the way they expected. They expected God to lead them toward circumstances that offered ease and rest. Instead, He gave them just enough bread for each day. 

He even prohibited them from storing any of it up for later. The Israelites were to trust that there would be more for tomorrow. Each day, they were to have the faith that they would have everything they needed.

That idea has become a subtle but powerful daily reminder for me: there's enough for today.

Not tomorrow. Not next week. Just today.

Storing up would mean the Israelites were putting their faith in something other than God.

And gosh, can I just say that I've been there too?

I can't tell you how many times I've tried to store things away for the future, like money, time, energy, and mental space. I've tried to gather enough so I wouldn't have to feel uncertain about tomorrow. But I'm realizing that it never really works, especially with that heart posture. Storing up because of my lack of faith often leaves me feeling more exhausted and much more anxious.

It never rewards me with the promise of certainty.

I'm realizing that faith is often a reminder to live simply, to trust that God has provided you with what you need for today, and that's enough. Manna for today.

So I want to gently ask you: what would manna for today look like for you right now?

Not just in terms of getting things done or growing your bank account. Think deeper. What does your soul need to be reminded of today? What's one small reminder that could help you breathe a little easier?

If you're like me and you need to be reminded of this more often, I made a free digital wallpaper with the phrase "manna for today." You can download it here.

Prompts For Your Journal

Where have I been trying to store up or control more than I need to?

What would it look like to trust that I have enough for today?

The Lovely Letter Co. exists for moments exactly like this one — when you need to be reminded that you aren't alone. If someone in your life is in the middle of a hard season and needs to be reminded that, browse the shop for a card worth keeping.