A PIECE OF CAKE

Life is not always or even primarily “a piece of cake” in the sense of being easy and smooth and sweet.

 

Life happens. It comes upon each of us in different ways. Usually not in the self-charted way we neatly and perfectly map out. “A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure” (Proverbs 16:9). “A man's steps are ordered by the Lord; how can a man understand his way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

Nevertheless, life really can be all cake if we look to Jesus Christ to keep us from being moved by its vicissitudes. Even if we are in Christ, that cake may not be the flavor we would have chosen. It may not be Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines. It may not have all the ingredients listed in the attractively colored box and we are afraid that we don't have all the extras that we need to add.

God may seem to be serving us a pound cake—things happening to us and to those we love are too heavy for us. Or we may dislike the piece of cake of life that we are served and call it devil's food cake. Or we want to refuse a fruit cake heavily loaded with fruit and nuts because we'd rather have light angel food cake made with egg whites and beaten fluffy with sugar. 

Some of us like the icing on our piece of cake more than the cake itself. We clamor for more frosting. God does add his sweet touches, His consolations, His serendipity blessings to our cake—but not all the time. Were we to eat nothing but frosting we would get sick. 

Moreover, we might feel that unless we have the whole cake, only a piece of cake is not enough. We feel deprived. But Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread....” He promises to give us our portion daily, not all at once. We are tempted to look around and see other people with a bigger slice of cake than we have. But God the Father knows best just what portion of cake we can handle and measures it out to us. We would be overwhelmed if we were given the entire cake at once. That's why He portions out our life in segments of days, one day at a time, one piece of cake at a time. Remember the question about how to eat an elephant? One bite at a time. With God's help that is doable.

Yes, life happens. But not happenstance, not randomly, not haphazardly. Even if life seems to be going over the cliff or in circles or if nothing appears to have any meaning, God is in control. He is Lord of our circumstances and of the changes through which He allows us to go. 

We can live without cake, but not without bread. Jesus identified Himself with bread, with the staff of life, the staple of nourishment in nearly every culture, and with the manna that sustained God's chosen people in the wilderness and the desert. He is our necessity. “I am the bread of life,” He declared. 

Just as Jesus blessed the bread at the miracle of the loaves, so He blesses the piece of cake He portions out to each of us in life. When Jesus blesses our piece of cake, it too will be multiplied with blessings. It will not only satisfy us but there will be baskets full left over.

The Lord Himself is my piece of cake. “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup....God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever....I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, 'You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living....Feed me with the food that is my portion...'” (Selections from the Psalms).

Thank You, Lord, for my daily portion, for the piece of cake You've served me today and for Your provision for tomorrow.