I wonder what the disciples’ faces looked like when Jesus said that to them—”You give them something to eat.” They knew they didn’t have what it took to do the job. Why was Jesus asking, then?
And yet, God does the same thing today, doesn’t He? One phone call or letter, and your life is changed forever. “You want me to raise that child, Lord? I haven’t got the first idea what to do.” “You’re going to dump that project in my lap, God? You know I don’t have those skills.” Or my own favorite from young adulthood: “You’re calling me to be a what?”
Jesus has a habit of calling the unqualified to do the impossible. (I’ve always suspected it has something to do with His sense of humor.) And it makes for some terrifying moments. But in the end, it comes out all right—for the disciples and for us. Because Jesus supplies what we lack—whether it’s wisdom, money, courage, or miracle-working power.
The disciples told Him honestly what they had, and Jesus worked with that. His instructions were plain and simple, and in the end, everyone was fed. When God faces us with the impossible, we can do what the disciples did—tell Him honestly, “This is all I can bring to the situation,” and then wait. Because in the end, it isn’t us in charge. It’s Jesus.
This is the God who planned to save the entire world, including us, from the power of sin, death, and the devil—and how? Using only a single human life—His own. He lay down that life for all of us on a cross outside Jerusalem, paying the price for all our evil. And three days later, He rose from the dead, breaking the power of death not just for Himself but for all of us who trust in Him. That’s a lot to do with so little!
And He can do extraordinary things with us limited people as well, if we will trust Him.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, help me to trust You when You call on me to do something for You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. When has God asked you to do something that feels impossible?
2. What happened?
3. What did this experience do for your attitude toward Him?