Life after divorce can be difficult and at times it has its challenges. I’ve been dealing with it for almost two years now. The main problem I’m dealing with is depression and the fear of loneliness. There are times I wonder how much longer am I to be in this desert? Although it is getting better for me, there are still moments in my life when I still get down and frustrated with my life. One day while reading the passage of Jesus being tempted in the desert by Satan, I paused on the verse where Satan tempts Jesus to turn the stones into bread, and Jesus says “man does not live by bread alone”. God reminded me in this awesome verse, that I should thank Him that I don’t live by bread alone!!! Think about it, how many times when we find ourselves in the desert of our lives do we forget this? We look to our ”bread” as being the source of our lives. When we lack in a particular need, instead of trusting in God for our provisions and feeding on Him and His promises as the only source for our sustenance, we take shortcuts and we try and provide in our own way apart from Him. We turn the stones into bread and then we find we are worse off than before. Me I’m guilty!!!!

But Jesus when He was given the chance to turn the stones into bread, refused to because He was trusting in His Father’s word which was given to Him during His baptism and which took place before the temptation in the desert.  Do you remember what those words were? They were “this is my beloved son whom I am pleased”.  You see, He knew that His Father loved him so much that He could trust His Father through the process and not try and do it in His strength. He persevered through the trial and patiently waited and what happened? The devil left Him and God sent His angels to finally feed Jesus and His needs were met!!!!

So I just want to encourage us. I don’t know what the bread represents for you and I don’t know how long you’ve been in the desert but know this, we do not live by bread alone! Our source, our life, is Jesus himself, who is the Bread of Life and He is our living Word. Let’s feed on Him and His promises of His love for us and let’s trust Him to satisfy our needs.  Be patient hold on to Him, His angels are coming soon! He will provide for you in His way and in His timing!

Matthew 4:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”