Mark 6:39-44  [NIV] |39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

When a multitude of Jesus’ followers have far too little food for all to eat, Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fishes so that all are satisfied. When problems threaten us and needs overwhelm our resources, what is our reaction? Do we turn first to the Lord? We should, as his Word makes clear, for he still treats his people with compassion and more than provides for every need of body and soul.

Living in a sinful world that attempts to derail us from trusting God, we may feel unsatisfied by the provisions of God. When Jesus asked the disciples to provide food for over five thousand people, they asked in astonishment if they should go and spend eight months’ wages on bread. A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God. We must trust God. The disciples did everything they could by gathering the available food and organizing the people into groups. Then, in answer to prayer, God did the impossible.

Sometimes all we can see is a blank wall in front of us, especially when all we see is a seemingly impossible task. God calls is to do what we can and ask him to do the rest. He may see fit to do the impossible, he may have us wait. We cannot lose sight of God’s goodness and his promise to provide for our needs. When our circumstances seem hopeless, God has our situation under his control with a promise he will satisfy according to his good and gracious will. Don’t let what seems impossible block our journey in life, do what we can and let God lead us from there.

Prayer:
Lord, help me when my trust in you is weak. Give me strength to follow your lead even when things seem impossible.

Action Plan:

I will trust in God to do immeasurably more than I can ask or think.

Pastor Rod Lindemann

I Can’t | Jesus Can | Jesus Can Through Me