God Is Not Santa Clause

God is not Santa Claus but He does care about our every need.

Recently, my grandson, Brooks, asked me if I had ever had an answer to prayer that I could see with my eyes. I understood what he was asking and I shared this true story.

My sister in law made beautiful window treatments for customers all over Greenville, SC. I had made some little window toppers for the windows in our living room, but oh, how I wanted some of her beautiful, custom made drapes. One year, after we received our tax return, I was praying. I asked the Lord if it would be foolish to use the extra money to have window treatments made. I knew it was not a necessity and I didn’t want to waste the money. As I prayed, I felt the Lord say to my spirit, “The money will be there.” I said to the Lord very quickly, “But I have the money. I just need to know if this is a good use.” About a second later, I realized God was saying yes, so I hushed up explaining and went to rejoicing. My generous husband agreed to the plan. Very soon, with my sister in law’s help, I had selected the fabric. She told me it would take some time because she already had a lot of other orders. The cost for her labor would be $700. I looked forward to getting these beautiful new drapes.

Six months passed. In that time, we had an unexpected car repair and a dishwasher repair that ate into the funds I had set aside for the drapes, leaving less than half the needed money. When my sister in law called to say the window treatments were ready, I felt sick because paying the $700 now would cut into money we had to have to pay bills, etc… The day before she was to bring and install the drapes, I walked to the mailbox. John had won a sales promotion at work and when I opened the envelope, I found a check for $704. Immediately, the Lord’s words from all those months before went through my mind, “The money will be there.” How awesome is our God! This was not the food and clothing that He promises in His Word. This was totally extra, and yet He provided.

Brooks asked me what happened to the drapes. I told him the truth. They were beautiful and I enjoyed them for a number of years. But, things get old and our tastes change. I eventually gave the drapes to someone else. God knew that, too. He knew they wouldn’t last and that I would eventually desire something else. And yet, He still provided! God is not Santa Claus, but He listens and He cares about every detail of our lives that we will trust Him with.

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Do you talk to God about everything – even the little, eternally insignificant things? When I was younger, I thought, “I don’t want to bother the God who spoke the world into existence with something so insignificant.” Matthew 6:26 and many other verses have taught me God cares about every part of my life. I have said it many times – prayer is relationship. Seek God in prayer and His Word and trust Him for everything. He’s waiting for you to open the door. (Revelation 3:20).