10/30/2025
Within the next few day, many Americans may experience food insecurity in the face of the government shutdown. On November 1st, 2025 SNAP benefits will stop. SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - a food assistance program run by the US government that provides food subsidies for low income Americans. Tens of millions of Americans depend on the SNAP program to provide resources to feed their families. Many people are asking, if the government shutdown continues into November, how will our families eat? In the face of such insecurity, I'd like to give us some encouragement to hopefully help us make it through this troubling time.
Matthew 6: 25-34 tells us not to worry about what we will eat or drink for the Lord Our God knows what we need. Jesus is very clear. Seek first, the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In the face of such troubling times, it can be hard to continue to have faith and trust that God will provide for you. But I encourage you to do so for our Lord is faithful. He gives good gifts when we are in need. He will not turn His back on us.
A couple years ago during the Covid outbreak in 2020, my husband and I found ourselves in the financial position that many people on SNAP are experiencing today. Because of Covid, my husband's company shut down and he ended up losing his job. He was our only source of income, as I was a stay-at-home mom pregnant with our second child. Since we had no income, we were forced to live off of savings, unemployment and then credit for over 2 years. During that time period we were blessed to be able to receive government resources such as SNAP and the WIC (Women Infant Children) program.
Although we were blessed to be able to continue to feed our family, we also had many other challenges. We had bills to pay, a house to maintain and needed clothes for our growing children. I remember one time noticing that our eldest daughter was growing out of all her clothes and we needed to buy more. Unfortunately, at this time, we still had no income. I couldn't even afford to buy clothes at the thrift shop for pennies on the dollar. One day I turned to God and told Him that I don't know how we're going to clothe our eldest daughter. I told him I know that He is faithful and that right now I really needed some help. A couple days later a friend of mine sent me a message. She stated that a friend of hers had a daughter who had outgrown all of her clothes and wanted to know if I would be interested in taking them.
I accepted her offer and we received the clothes into our household. This was an incredible blessing. God knew our need. He knew that my daughters needed new clothing and understood that in our current situation we could not afford it. He sent resources our way miraculously after I prayed. To me, this is an example of God providing just like He said he would in Matthew chapter 6.
God is faithful. He chooses to support us as we seek His kingdom in different ways. Sometimes He supports us by providing means through other people. My friend didn't know that I had a need, but God used her to miraculously provide for my need. In the month of November, if you are looking for food, perhaps God has provided food for you in the hands of other people and other organizations such as your local food pantry, churches and grocery stores that are doing a food donation program. Food is also available through the Emergency Food Assistance Program at usda.gov. This program is a separate program than SNAP or WIC and can provide additional food benefits.
Another way God provides is by giving us the resources and wisdom to create a way to supply our own needs. We must be sure to be good stewards over whatever God places into our hands.
For example, although you may be on SNAP, you may be in the position where you may have some extra income. Perhaps what you would usually use for buying new clothes, getting your hair done and nails done or buying coffee, eating out etc. can be reallocated to your household food budget. Perhaps God has already provided for you in this situation without you knowing it. Maybe God has already given you resources to help you get through this. You just have to use them appropriately by allocating your finances effectively to your needs, not your wants.
In closing, as we are in Christ seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we know that God will provide all of our needs. Today, I'm praying for millions of Americans across the nation that have food insecurity and may be in a desperate situation this November if the government shutdown continues. I'm praying that the government finds a resolution to begin funding programs in order to provide people with food and to provide government workers with their paychecks. But more than that, I am praying that people would turn from their worries and anxieties and turn to God so that if they don't know Christ, they would accept Him as their Lord and savior and give their life to Him.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, rose again on the third day and now sits with all authority and power at the right hand of the Father. Through our belief that he died for our sins, we have been cleansed of our sin, purified and reconciled to the Father. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that makes us blameless before the throne and it is that same righteousness that we seek as members of the kingdom of God. While we are also seeking His kingdom, in obedience to His Will and His Word, this allows us to be the benefactors of the grace and mercy of God, especially during our time of need. I am praying that you and your family will be secure in the hands of Christ as we go through these uncertain times. May God bless you!
Love,
Open Eyes Ministries
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