Last night was a rough night of sleep for me. When I woke up at 2am, my mind was working overtime and I just could not shut it off. I was able to turn off “worry mode” and move into “thinking mode” and from there; I finally parked in “prayer mode.” I don’t doubt that we all have experienced those nights of tossing and turning because of a situation that has made us rather anxious. That is where we find ourselves right now. Fighting the battle between fear and faith. Our faith is strong but every once in awhile fear tries to creep in and when I look at fear…my faith begins to weaken. So, at 2:30 in the morning, I went into my office and sat with my Bible and began to read in Mark, chapter 6. At 3:06 I crawled back in bed holding these facts of the Word close to my heart…and in my mind. I really was encouraged, so I thought maybe this might encourage you, as well.
Beginning at Mark 6:30, I read about the multitude of people that Jesus taught. I love that He was “moved with compassion” for them (vs. 34). I believe that He is still moved with compassion today for us. When He told the Disciples to feed the people, they freaked out with worry. That was going to cut into the budget big time. “And they said to Him, ‘Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat’” (vs. 37)? So, Jesus found five loaves of bread and two fish and He fed five thousand people. Five thousand people!! If He can feed that many people with so little, I know that He can meet our needs also. I know that we can trust Him to supply us with enough to feed us. Remember He is moved with compassion for you.
Then I moved into the moment when Jesus walked out to the Disciples on the water in the midst of the storm.
“And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened” (Mark 6:49-52).
This is what I gleaned from this little treasure. The storm didn’t cease until Jesus got in the boat. Whatever your situation of struggle right now, make sure you have asked Jesus to walk out to the boat and have allowed Him to get in. The storm can only cease when Jesus is in the boat. Too often we try to handle the situation on our own. The Disciples were “straining at rowing, for the wind was against them” (vs. 48). Jesus saw this and walked to them. He sees when the wind is against us and we are straining to keep rowing. Allow Him in the boat.
Now in chapter 8 I read again about the feeding of the four thousand. Once again Jesus sees the people with nothing to eat and calls to His Disciples, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar” (Mark 8:2-3). His Disciples answer Him by asking, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness” (vs. 4). I thought about the look that might have been on Jesus’ face. Did He look at them with that look of “HUH?” that I sometimes have looked at my kids when I couldn’t understand how they could ask such a question? He just asks them “how many loaves do you have?” (vs. 5) Oh, ok…seven. Let’s do this again. And He does. The people ate and are filled. My treasure? Don’t be so quick to forget how the Lord has provided in the past.
As we have been faithful to serve Him, He has been faithful to meet many, many needs for us throughout the years. We must never forget them.
So, as I laid my head back on my pillow, I surrendered to these truths from His promises in the Word.
1) He will meet our needs. Wants and needs are different. He meets needs.
2) He will get in the boat, in the midst of the storm, but the storm won’t cease until He is invited in.
3) He wants us to remember what He has done in the past, He can do again.
Now, I must grab my coffee and keep my eyes and mind alert today, focused on Him rather than the storm. I am moving over in the boat now and making room for Jesus. I am going to stop struggling against the wind and allow Him to row the boat. Sounds like a great plan to me, what about you?
Beginning at Mark 6:30, I read about the multitude of people that Jesus taught. I love that He was “moved with compassion” for them (vs. 34). I believe that He is still moved with compassion today for us. When He told the Disciples to feed the people, they freaked out with worry. That was going to cut into the budget big time. “And they said to Him, ‘Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat’” (vs. 37)? So, Jesus found five loaves of bread and two fish and He fed five thousand people. Five thousand people!! If He can feed that many people with so little, I know that He can meet our needs also. I know that we can trust Him to supply us with enough to feed us. Remember He is moved with compassion for you.
Then I moved into the moment when Jesus walked out to the Disciples on the water in the midst of the storm.
“And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened” (Mark 6:49-52).
This is what I gleaned from this little treasure. The storm didn’t cease until Jesus got in the boat. Whatever your situation of struggle right now, make sure you have asked Jesus to walk out to the boat and have allowed Him to get in. The storm can only cease when Jesus is in the boat. Too often we try to handle the situation on our own. The Disciples were “straining at rowing, for the wind was against them” (vs. 48). Jesus saw this and walked to them. He sees when the wind is against us and we are straining to keep rowing. Allow Him in the boat.
Now in chapter 8 I read again about the feeding of the four thousand. Once again Jesus sees the people with nothing to eat and calls to His Disciples, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar” (Mark 8:2-3). His Disciples answer Him by asking, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness” (vs. 4). I thought about the look that might have been on Jesus’ face. Did He look at them with that look of “HUH?” that I sometimes have looked at my kids when I couldn’t understand how they could ask such a question? He just asks them “how many loaves do you have?” (vs. 5) Oh, ok…seven. Let’s do this again. And He does. The people ate and are filled. My treasure? Don’t be so quick to forget how the Lord has provided in the past.
As we have been faithful to serve Him, He has been faithful to meet many, many needs for us throughout the years. We must never forget them.
So, as I laid my head back on my pillow, I surrendered to these truths from His promises in the Word.
1) He will meet our needs. Wants and needs are different. He meets needs.
2) He will get in the boat, in the midst of the storm, but the storm won’t cease until He is invited in.
3) He wants us to remember what He has done in the past, He can do again.
Now, I must grab my coffee and keep my eyes and mind alert today, focused on Him rather than the storm. I am moving over in the boat now and making room for Jesus. I am going to stop struggling against the wind and allow Him to row the boat. Sounds like a great plan to me, what about you?
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