Life is hard. No one is denying that. Financial struggles, health crises, and unexpected hardships can hit anyone at any time. When you’re in the middle of it, it’s natural to reach out for help. But there’s a pattern among believers that deserves a closer look—constantly saying “God provides” while relying on other people to do the actual providing.

This isn’t about shaming anyone for needing help. We all need support sometimes. But if God is truly the provider, why do His followers so often turn to people—many of whom don’t even share their faith—for assistance? And more importantly, why do they give Him the credit instead of the actual humans who stepped up?

Biblical Provision vs. Modern Reality

In the Bible, God’s provision was unmistakable. It didn’t require social media posts, GoFundMe campaigns, or waiting on human generosity. When people were in need, God supposedly provided in direct and supernatural ways:

Manna from Heaven (Exodus 16): The Israelites were starving in the desert, and God made bread appear every morning—no donations required.

Elijah and the Ravens (1 Kings 17:4-6): God didn’t tell Elijah to ask people for food. He sent birds to deliver it.

Water from a Rock (Exodus 17:6): Instead of waiting for a generous traveler to offer a sip, God made water pour from a rock.

The Feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13-21): Jesus didn’t take up a collection. He allegedly multiplied food on the spot.

If God still provided in this way, believers wouldn’t need to publicly struggle in hopes that someone—some human—will take pity on them.

The Reality: People Are Providing, Not God

Think about how provision actually happens today.

1. A believer falls into hardship.


2. They post about their struggles, saying, “I trust God to provide!”


3. Other people—many of whom don’t believe in God at all—step in to help.


4. The believer praises God for “coming through.”

But if God is truly the provider, why does He need people to know about your suffering before “answering” your prayers? If He’s all-powerful, shouldn’t help arrive whether or not you make your situation public? The hard truth is that if no one knows you need help, the odds of you receiving it drop significantly. That’s not divine provision—that’s just how human generosity works.

Selective Memory: Remembering the Good, Forgetting the Bad

One of the biggest ways believers hold onto their faith is by remembering only the times they think God came through for them—while conveniently forgetting the many times He didn’t.

When the rent money magically shows up after a desperate Facebook post? “God is so faithful!”

When the cancer goes into remission? “God is a healer!”

When they get the job they prayed for? “Look at what God did!”

But what about all the times things didn’t work out?

What about the rent money that didn’t come, leading to eviction

What about the cancer patient who didn’t survive, despite endless prayers?

What about the faithful believers who lost everything, no matter how much they trusted God?

When things go well, God gets the credit. When things go badly, believers say, “God has a bigger plan” or “We just don’t understand His ways.” It’s a psychological coping mechanism, not proof of divine provision.

Giving Credit Where It’s Due

Here’s where things get uncomfortable. The people who help you—whether by donating, offering support, or simply being there—deserve the credit for their kindness. If they don’t pray to your God, don’t believe in Him, or don’t even know who He is, why should He get the credit for their actions?

Some believers try to sidestep this by saying, “God uses even wicked people to accomplish His will.” But that raises another problem—if God is “influencing” people’s hearts, doesn’t that go against the idea of free will? If someone helps you out of their own kindness, isn’t that their choice, not God forcing them?

It’s a simple shift in perspective: instead of saying, “God provided,” why not say, “These amazing people helped me when I needed it most”? Acknowledging the kindness of others doesn’t take anything away from your faith—it just ensures that the people who actually showed up for you get the appreciation they deserve.

Faith and Personal Responsibility

If you believe God provides, that’s fine. But it’s also important to recognize that provision in today’s world doesn’t come from the sky—it comes from the hands of real, living, breathing people. Instead of downplaying human generosity, why not celebrate it?

So, next time you receive help, consider shifting the credit. Say thank you to the people who sacrificed their time, energy, or money to help you—not just to the God who, without them, may not have come through at all.

Article by Leslyann Soeung