Today, I picked up my phone and it opened the Bible app without me touching the icon (I can take a hint Lord :)). It opened to Mark 8, so I read through the chapter trying to see what God was saying to me. Beginning at verse 14 we learn that as the disciples are leaving by boat with Jesus, they realize they have only brought one loaf of bread for the journey. Now, mind you, this is after Jesus performed 2 separate miracles feeding 4 thousand, then 5 thousand people with only a few loaves of bread. Yet, here they are, eye-witnesses to those very miracles and they are right back to worrying about food when the Son of God is right there in the boat with them!!
Oh my goodness! There are some BIG lessons here, aren't there?
The first thing that slaps me in the face is how quick we humans are to doubt and to forget the greatness of the God who created us. How many times does He have to prove His trustworthiness before that is the first thing we think about when we are in crisis? How many times has He rescued us from the darkness of our own sins? How many times must we witness His love before we truly believe that He is always out for our good?
He is standing in our midst and we fail to recognize the God of all creation.
Jesus says, "Don't you grasp what has happened? Don't you understand? Are your hearts so resistant to what God is doing? Don't you have eyes? Why don't you see? Don't you have ears? Why don't you hear? Don't you remember?" I can almost see the look of exasperation on Jesus' face.
Forgive me Lord when your grace is right in front of me and I fail to see it. Forgive me sweet Jesus when I limit your power by my own doubt. Forgive me Father for my human failures.
I may be in the valley of darkness at this moment, but I shall remain faithful to the One who has proved Himself over and over and over again. He is incapable of failing me. Did you hear that? God is INCAPABLE OF FAILING US! It is not in His DNA (okay, I admit I don't know if He even has DNA, but you get the meaning).
I have failed Him countless times. Sometimes, it is even the same sin over and over. But, He will NEVER fail me.
He will hold my hand, whisper to my heart, reveal His goodness and mercy, and pull me from the valley to the mountaintop once again. I trust my God in the midst of doubt, and pain, and struggle. He isn't letting go of me, and I refuse to let go of Him.
He is worthy. I trust Him.
Be love and be blessed,
