Remember
By Larry Platner
Day 10
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. 47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. NLT
In the midst of their crisis, overwhelmed with emotions of fear and anxiety the disciples failed to remember what Jesus had just done, feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fish. Jesus had demonstrated his power over nature.
Change will surface an abundance of feelings, most of which will be on the negative side. Anxiety, frustration, despair, anger, etc. It is easy to allow these emotions to take over, to dwell on them, allowing them to influence our decisions and fuel further negative feelings. It is in times like this that we need to remember Jesus, remember how he has come to our aid in the past, remember the stories that others have shared of God’s provision in their lives, remember the stories of the Bible, how God saved others from the most desperate and impossible situations.
What are your memories of God’s provision in your life, of the lives of friends and family? What stories in the Bible have most connected with you?
Psalms 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. NLT