As a dad, one of the things that comes most naturally to me is helping provide for our daughter, Isabella, who is a senior at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg. When she became eligible to have a car on campus, I began thinking through what she might need — not just for everyday driving, but for the unexpected. I had already given her a roadside emergency kit from AAA with jumper cables, flares, duct tape, zip ties, a flashlight, etc. But knowing the realities of winter in the mountains of Virginia, I added a few more things to her car: a blanket, bottles of water, a container of snow melt, a pair of gloves, extra batteries, bungee cords, and even a small snow shovel. I also wrote up what to do if she were ever in an accident. 

As I was adding the more “wintery” items over Thanksgiving break, a thought entered my mind. I wasn’t just assembling supplies; I was preparing my child for what she might face on the road. This was actually something that we started years before. 

I remember when I first taught her how to drive. We went to the community college parking lot and started with the basics — the mechanics of the car, what was under the hood, how the car responds to steering and braking. Then I gave her the keys and let her feel the movement of the vehicle by gently swerving side to side, learning its weight and rhythm. I had her hit the gas pedal and then slam on the brakes so she could experience how the car would respond in an emergency. Later, we drove in pouring rain, in icy conditions, on winding roads, and on busy Richmond interstates. It was all intentional. I wanted her to build muscle memory — to anticipate real-life situations before she ever had to face them alone. 

And today, I’m thankful that she is a careful, capable, and responsible driver. 

Why do parents do these things? Because that’s what love does. Love anticipates. Love prepares. Love protects. Love provides. 

Recently, my devotional reading brought me back to God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 8 reminds us that God fed His people with manna from heaven and water from the rock (vv. 3, 15). But verse 4 captured my attention in a fresh way: “Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.” I hadn’t connected with this verse before. Not only did God provide food and water — He maintained their clothing and protected their bodies. Over four decades in the desert, their garments held together and their feet endured the journey. 

What a quiet miracle! 

It is a powerful reminder that God’s provision is often far more expansive than we realize. He is not only concerned with the dramatic needs of our lives, but with the daily, ordinary, and easily overlooked details. The shoes on their feet. The thread in their garments. The strength in their bodies. The next step on the long road. 

In his book The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard wrote that God has an “inexhaustible supply” of energy and resources to meet the needs of His creation. Whether through multiplied loaves and fishes, or through sustaining the body of someone walking in faith, God is never running low. He never runs out. He never grows weary. He never falls behind. (Willard, p. 197) 

Like a loving Father preparing the road ahead for His children, God is always working in ways both seen and unseen. He is forming our hearts, strengthening our faith, shaping our character, and providing for our journey — even when we don’t recognize it in the moment. 

As we enter deeper into this season of Advent and preparation, may we be reminded of this truth: the same God who guided Israel through the wilderness is still guiding His people today. And the God who provided manna, water, clothing, and endurance is faithfully providing for you and me. 

Even now, He is Emmanuel: The Light for Our Journey. 

Grace and peace,