You shall eat in plenty

and be satisfied,

and praise the name

  of the LORD your God,

who has dealt

  wondrously with you.

You shall know that

I am in the midst of Israel,

and that I am

    the LORD your God

and there is none else.

             Joel 2. 26-27

(Not the "prosperity gospel,"

but quite the opposite:

the Good News

in suffering and affliction

     and the hard stuff.

God guides and provides

even in times of trouble

and unending drought.

We are satisfied in Him,

   not just in

   favorable circumstances.

Jesus is enough

when all else vanishes.

God is still God.

He is still with us.

He enters in.

What does it take

   to realize that?

A willing heart.)

O LORD,

May we not be distracted

by circumstances,

   favorable or not.

Help us to walk with You

and seek You,

  not just answers,

not just a bandaid

 to cover our gaping wounds,

not just a snack

 to stave off our hunger,

not just stuff we want

  but what we need.

And that would be You.

We can live differently

  because You are with us,

not handicapped

    by circumstances,

unfeeling or callous,

but responsive to You.