The 1918 Photo That Reveals What's Missing from Your Success Story

You've probably heard the Lord's Prayer countless times. Maybe you mumbled through it in childhood Sunday school, or perhaps you've encountered it at weddings or funerals. But have you ever stopped to really think about what you're saying when you pray, "Give us this day our daily bread"?

I want to share with you a story that might change how you see this simple but profound request. It starts with a photograph from 1918 that became one of the most famous images in American history.

Photographer Eric Ingstrom was working in his shop when an itinerant salesman named Charles Wilden walked by. Something about Charles caught Eric's attention, and he called out, "Hey, can I take a couple photographs of you?" What Eric captured in that moment became known as "Grace" – a colorized photograph showing an elderly man with weathered hands, bowing his head in prayer over a simple meal of bread and soup.
The image was meant to inspire thankfulness among people who had endured so much during World War I. Through Wilden's devout posture and humble surroundings, Ingstrom wanted to invoke a spirit of religious faith, thankfulness, and humility. The photograph became so beloved that in 2002, Minnesota made it their official state photograph.
Looking at that image brings to mind three powerful concepts: faith, humility, and a posture of dependence. And these are exactly the attitudes Jesus wants us to cultivate when we pray those familiar words: "Give us this day our daily bread."

Let's dive into Matthew 6:11 and unpack what Jesus really meant. First, we need to understand what "bread" represents. In this context, bread isn't just about food – it's about provision for all our basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. It represents everything we need to sustain life.

Now let's break this prayer into three parts.

Notice the prayer doesn't say "give me" – it says "give us." Right from the start, Jesus is teaching us that we're not meant to live in isolation. We're part of a community, and our prayers should reflect that.

But more importantly, when we say "give us," we're acknowledging that God is the source of everything we need. This isn't a demand we're making; it's a humble request to the King of the universe. Think about that for a moment – we're approaching the Creator of everything, asking for help.

Genesis 1:29-31 reminds us that God could have made our food look like mud and taste like mud, but He didn't. Instead, He created beautiful strawberry fields, stunning almond trees in bloom, and flavors that bring us joy. God glorifies Himself through His creative provision, and everything we have ultimately comes from Him.

Here's a humbling thought: even the most skilled chefs in the world can't create a beautiful dish from nothing. They need ingredients – ingredients that God has already created. Scientists working on new food sources still have to use the elements, particles, and atoms that God has already made. We are completely dependent on what God has provided.

As J.I. Packer puts it: "The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God's hand but is a humble acknowledgment of helplessness and dependence."

The second part of this prayer – "this day" – might make you uncomfortable. It suggests that God's provision might be just enough for one day. And honestly, that goes against everything our culture teaches us about security and planning.

Remember the story of the Israelites in the desert? In Exodus 16:4, God told Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day." The Israelites had to collect manna daily, and if they tried to hoard it for the next day, it would rot.

Think about that – they were literally one day away from not having food. Does that make you as uncomfortable as it makes me?

I remember the toilet paper shortage of 2020. Families were texting each other asking, "Do you have enough rolls?" The fear of not having enough for tomorrow led people to hoard, which ironically created the very shortage everyone was afraid of.

But here's what Jesus is teaching us: our human tendency is to store up as much as we can so we don't have to depend on God. That's the attitude we need to fight against.
Now, before you think I'm suggesting you empty your savings account, let me clarify. Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children." It's not wrong to save money or plan for the future. The issue is your attitude.

Are you storing up wealth with a self-dependent mindset, thinking, "I just need enough so I'm comfortable and don't need to trust God"? Or do you have an open-handed approach, recognizing that everything comes from God and could be taken away at any moment?
There's a huge difference between wisdom and self-reliance.

This is where many of us get into trouble – confusing needs and wants. When I think about daily bread, part of me would love it to look like a stack of hundred-dollar bills, a mansion, or a luxury car. But that's not what Jesus is talking about.

Let me be clear about something that's not in the Bible: the idea that financial wealth and physical well-being are direct results of faith, and that God rewards those with strong faith with material blessings. This "health and wealth" gospel simply isn't biblical.

Look at the Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament. Was he wealthy? Was he healthy? He had to ask people to bring him blankets in jail because he was cold. This man wasn't healthy or wealthy, but he was doing exactly what God wanted him to do.

God may give us exactly what we need and not what we want, especially during certain seasons of our lives. Modern daily bread looks like food, clothing, and shelter – the basics that sustain life.

Matthew 6:25-33 contains some of Jesus's most challenging words about provision and worry. He tells us not to worry about what we'll eat, drink, or wear. He points to birds that don't store away in barns, yet God feeds them. He mentions flowers that don't labor or spin, yet are clothed more beautifully than Solomon in all his splendor.

Then comes the key verse: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).

I'll be honest – I get caught in what I call "the whirlwind" almost every weekend. I'm tired from a long week, my family wants to spend time with me (which I love), and I sit down to write my weekend to-do list. Fix the leaky faucet, do yard work, run the kids to events – it becomes all about me, me, me.

When I'm so focused on myself, I miss what God is doing in His kingdom. I need to lift my eyes off of me to see the bigger picture. He's called us to tell others about Jesus, to take care of each other in our communities, and to meet the needs of those around us.

There's so much need and so much opportunity to build God's kingdom right here on earth. We can't get so caught up in our personal whirlwind that we miss it.

Here's something important: asking God for daily bread doesn't mean sitting around with your mouth open, waiting for provision to drop from the sky. The Israelites had to go out and collect the manna. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."

God most often provides for our needs through our own efforts. Whether you work with your hands or your mind, God gave you those abilities. He provides through our hard work, through the generosity of others, and yes, sometimes through the miraculous.

This brings us together into community with one another – and that's part of God's design.

You might be thinking, "This all sounds nice, but you don't understand my situation." Maybe you're:

• Wanting to pay for your daughter's wedding
• Hoping to send your kids to college
• Trying to save enough to retire
• Planning that European vacation
• Just trying to get out of debt
• Struggling to put food on the table
• Successful and building a business empire

Here's the commonality in all these situations: we all need to depend on God. Why? Because we don't know what's going to happen next.

You might be about to retire with a great nest egg when the stock market tumbles. You might be ready to buy your dream home when an unexpected medical issue changes everything. We simply don't know what tomorrow holds.

This verse applies to all of us, regardless of our financial situation. You might be in a season where God is providing the same "manna" day after day, and you're tired of it. Like the Israelites, you might be thinking, "God, how much longer?"

But God might be using this season to grow you in thankfulness, dependence, humility, and trust. It could be a tough season, but God can work in you to make you more like Him.

After reflecting on "Give us this day our daily bread," here's what we need:
1. An Attitude of Dependence Colossians 1:17 says, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Whether you're approaching retirement, in midlife, or just starting out, we're all in the same boat. Everything – your job, your family, your health – is held together by God. We're totally dependent on Him.

2. Appropriate Expectations Your provision may just be enough for one day, and that's okay. Part of gratitude is recognizing when God comes through for you and thanking Him for it. Write down those "God moments" when you know there was no way you could have handled something by yourself. We're forgetful creatures, and those reminders will help you trust Him in future difficulties.

3. A Heart Like God's for Others Psalm 104:13-15 shows us that God looks to the needs of those committed to Him but also extends grace to those in need. It's hard to see others' needs if you're not in community with people. You can't meet needs you don't know about.

As you think about this teaching on daily bread, consider these questions:

1. What's your attitude toward your possessions? Are you open-handed or tight-fisted? Do you see yourself as a steward of God's resources or the owner of your own success?
2. How do you handle uncertainty? When faced with an unknown future, do you trust God's provision or do you panic and try to control everything yourself?
3. Are you in community with others? It's difficult to pray "give us" if you're living in isolation. Who are the people you're praying for and sharing life with?
4. What are your actual needs versus your wants? Take an honest inventory. What do you truly need to sustain life, and what are you hoping for to make life more comfortable?
5. How visible is your dependence on God? Do others around you – your family, coworkers, friends – see that you rely on God, or do you appear completely self-sufficient?

Let me leave you with three practical ways to live out this prayer:
1. Pray with your family before meals. If you have kids, this is one of the most powerful ways to show them that provision comes from God. Don't just recite the same prayer – pray from the heart, pray specifically, and pray in a way that shows you really mean it.
2. Pray publicly. I'm not talking about street corner preaching, but consider praying before your meal in the workplace breakroom or cafeteria. It might open doors for conversation with people who need to know that God cares about them.
3. Pray at restaurants. Here's a specific phrase that can open incredible doors: "We're about to pray for our food – is there anything we can pray for you?" You'll be amazed at how often servers, struggling with their own challenges, will share something deeply personal. You might be the only person who asks about their needs that day.

"Give us this day our daily bread" is ultimately about recognizing that we're not self-made, self-sufficient people. We're beloved children of a heavenly Father who knows our needs before we ask and delights in providing for us.

This prayer teaches us dependence, humility, community, and trust. It reminds us that everything we have is a gift, and everything we need will be provided by the One who holds all things together.

The man in that 1908 photograph, Charles Wilden, captured something timeless – the posture of a heart that knows its dependence on God. As you face your own uncertainties, your own needs, and your own desires for security, remember that you're praying to a Father who sees you, knows you, and promises to provide for you.

If this message resonates with you, if you're hungry to learn more about what it means to depend on God in practical ways, I want to invite you to join at Hope Church this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00am. Whether you're just beginning to explore faith or you've been on this journey for years, you'll find a community of people learning to live with open hands and dependent hearts.

Come as you are, with all your questions, doubts, and hopes. Let's discover together what it means to pray – and live – "Give us this day our daily bread."