Mundane Monday: Isolation's Surprise - Denise Pass

by | May 16, 2016 | Abuse, affliction, Autoimmune Diseases, Believers, blessings, Body of Christ, Chosen, Christian, Christian Encouragement, Church, Comforter, counseling, counselor, Count Your Blessings, Depression, faithful, Family, Family Life, Freedom, Gifts, God, Gratitude, Healing, heals, Holy Spirit, inspiration, Israelites, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jewish, Joy, Joyful living, Kindness, knowing God, Life, Lord, Love, materialism, Matters, Mental Health, Mercy, Ministry, Money, Moral, Peer Pressure, Perspective, Philosophy, Positive Thinking, Prayer, Principles, Promises, Provision, psychology, Radical faith, Relationship, Religion, Resolutions, revelation, Salvation, satisfaction, Scripture, Sovereignty, Spiritual, striving, suffering, Temptation, Terrorism, Theology, Uncategorized, Victorious Christian Living, Waiting, wisdom, Worldview |

Inspirational Thought of the Day:

It is in the unlikely places that God reaches His people with His love and grace.

Scriptures of the Day:

Matthew 14:15

When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 15 But he replied, “They don’t need to go. You give them something to eat.”

Matthew 15:33

The disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?” 34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven–and a few small fish.”

It is sometimes not until we are in a place of want that we understand how blessed we are. Not knowing how the bills will be paid, hoping the debit card works at the register at the grocery store, not being able to afford prescription medication, or even being unable to fix our car – all things I have walked through – taught me lessons I could never have learned when provision was more abundant.

The assumption the disciples made and we often can, too, is that in those desolate places, when we are alone and it seems there is no help, it is not what we have that matters. It is Who we have that makes all the difference.

The disciples did not see how they could help the masses of people. They looked at what they had, they looked at the resources around them and it looked bleak. This makes sense in our practical world. We don’t plan on what might be, we plan according to what is in our hands. While this is a sensible approach when it comes to living on a budget, God’s math does not add up when His children are hurting or in need. In the place of isolation there is a test. A test to see what our response will be. A test of trust.

He loves to demonstrate His care and use us to do so, as well. Jesus looked at their hearts and longed to provide in a way that brought glory to God. No one could take credit for such a lavish feast. People still scratch their heads today wondering how such a miracle could occur, but that is what is so awesome about God’s provision – it always surprises us because it does not seem possible.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked means of God’s provision is us. He blesses us and watches to see how we will be sensitive to see the needs of others. Will we be His hands and feet? God is asking us today, “What do you have?” Phew. humbling. But one of the greatest joys is giving and seeing God at work in the life of the recipient.  Much like earthly parents love to surprise their children with blessings, our God waits to see if we will call on Him and also be used by Him so He can answer in amazing ways.

But perhaps the need and provision are not the most significant aspects of these biblical stories. God is using that need to open their eyes to seek Him, that we might know Him more.

Lord, thank You that You are never far off when we cry out to You. Please help us to be attentive to the needs around us, ready to help, as well.