Chewing When I Can't Chew

I was chewing on the goodness of God in the Bread of Life Sunday after church and realized I couldn’t chew. Since late last week, a tooth I had recently received a filling in began to ache, and the pain exploded Sunday afternoon. As the evening and night wore on, I tried everything I could to take the edge off the pain, but it only increased. I spent the sleepless night pacing, rubbing, brushing, and swishing cold water, hot water, salt water, mouthwash, or anything else that could possibly help...to no avail.

I could not chew, but I kept chewing.

In Matthew 7:7–11, we learned of the goodness of our Heavenly Father in Christ. If evil fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more our good, good Father who gave us His Son—the greatest gift! Oh, how I needed that Bread to chew on as I wrestled with the pain. On several occasions, I cried out that He would take the pain away. My blessed family joined me. His grace is sufficient.

I kept telling my soul that this experience was Good Bread from our Heavenly Father. The body didn’t feel it, but the soul did. The flesh wanted to accuse Him of giving me a stone, but the Spirit prevailed. It was hard to pray, but He knew.

The experience wasn’t over yet, as there were no dental openings until Tuesday morning. He was giving me my own custom “revelation demands response.” I know that each of your days, too, have been formed to show you the Bread. More than show—to taste Him and see that He is good!

Heavenly Father, we ask that you grant us faith to see your goodness in Christ. We seek Him in every detail of life. We knock with all that is in us, that you would open your storehouse of goodness and shower our souls with every spiritual blessing. We pray expectantly in the name of Jesus. Amen.