Manna By Day, Fire By Night

Lately, I’ve been waking up at 1 a.m. every night.

(Thanks to a very small human.)

But strangely—thankfully—that’s when I hear God the clearest.

The world is still. My thoughts are soft. And in those quiet hours, the Lord speaks.

He doesn’t hand me a five-year plan.
He doesn’t show me the whole path.

But He gently whispers, “This is the way—walk in it.”

And somehow, that’s been enough to keep going.

Like the Israelites in the wilderness, I’m learning to gather the manna He provides each day—enough for today, no more, no less.

And even in the night—when the path feels darkest—I’m reminded of the pillar of fire that led them, steadfast and sure.
In the heat of the day, there was a cloud to guide and shield them.
In the darkness of night, there was a flame to light the way.

God didn’t just send provision—He stayed close.
And He still does.

Obedience Before Understanding

Not long ago, I felt a quiet nudge from the Holy Spirit—not to post my classroom wishlist.

But I did it anyway.
And then, quietly… I took it down.

There wasn’t any fallout. No lightning bolt from the sky.
Just a gentle conviction:
Sometimes trust looks like listening, even when I don’t fully understand why.

I’m learning that obedience doesn’t always come with explanations.
Just direction.

This year feels a little foggy around the edges.
I don’t have a blueprint for the months ahead.
I’m holding my plans loosely—asking God to guide, and waiting to see what unfolds.

And while part of me wants to gather and prepare—to stockpile answers and security—I keep sensing that I’m supposed to go slowly.
To stay light.
To gather just enough manna for today.

And in the darker moments, I look for the fire that never goes out.

It’s tender to write this—especially knowing who might be reading.
But maybe you’re in that space too.

Maybe you’re waiting on clarity.
Doing the next right thing with questions still unanswered.
Wondering if you missed something… or if you're just behind.

You're not behind.
You’re just being led—by manna by day, cloud by day, fire by night

Manna and Fire in the Wilderness

This season has felt like a wilderness.
Not dramatic—just dry.

Plans haven’t panned out.
Provision feels tight.
The way forward is unclear.

And yet, oddly enough, I’ve found peace here.

Because even here, God is providing.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.’”
—Exodus 16:4 (NIV)

When the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, God gave them manna—a daily portion of provision. He also gave them something else: His presence.

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them…and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.”
—Exodus 13:21 (NIV)

The manna sustained their bodies.

The cloud by day sheltered and directed them.
The fire by night reassured their hearts.

God was with them at every hour—visible, faithful, near.

When the desert sun blazed, the cloud gave shade.
When the wilderness grew dim, the fire gave light.

He didn’t leave them to figure it out alone.
He went ahead of them.
He stayed with them.

And I’m learning to watch for Him in the same way.

When I don’t know how we’ll buy groceries or cover tuition, the Lord helps me see what’s already in front of me:
a meal from pantry scraps,
a friend who shares,
a nudge to rest instead of hustle.

Each morning, I gather what He gives.
Each night, I trust in the flame that still burns.

He provides.
He leads.
He stays.

The God Who Meets Us Here

I wouldn’t have chosen this path.

Not the uncertainty.
Not the slow surrender.
Not the quiet ache of waiting.

But it’s here—right here—that I’ve met the Lord most intimately.

I think of Hagar, sure her story was over, until God opened her eyes to the well that had been there all along.

“Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.”
—Genesis 21:19 (NIV)

I think of Jacob, alone and afraid, using a rock for a pillow—only to realize he was standing on holy ground.

“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
—Genesis 28:16 (NIV)

And Abraham, called away from all that was familiar, asked to walk without a map.

“Go to the land I will show you.”
—Genesis 12:1 (NIV)

None of them had the full picture.
But they had God.
And that was enough.

If You’re Here Too

If you’re in the in-between—waiting, unsure, worn thin by the questions—I just want to say: I see you.

More importantly, God sees you.

He hasn’t forgotten you.
He’s not late.
And He’s not expecting you to carry tomorrow on your own.

He’s the God who gave daily bread—manna by day.
The God who covered His people with shade—a cloud by day.
The God who stayed close when night fell—a fire by night.

He still gives us what we need, one day at a time.
He still leads with kindness.
He still whispers in the quiet when everything else feels loud.

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”
—Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV)

So gather what He gives today.
Just today.

And trust that He’s already holding tomorrow—
with manna for the day,
a cloud to guide,
and a fire to light the way.