With Even These Things

Starvation, disease, conflict, pain, sorrow. The list goes on an on. Around the world, millions of people are faced with problems so severe that there appears to be no hope of a better tomorrow. I won't list the countless statistics to show my point; we've already heard them. We know that there are people homeless, children hungry, and families torn apart by cruel conflicts. But what are we going to do about it? The staggering numbers of the amount of people going through these trials scare us. It paralyzes us and gives us a sense that there is no hope.

But, as always, God takes the moments that seem pure chaos, confusion and destruction and turns it into something with beauty, hope, and wonder! Allow me to share a story with you that I love and that encourages me.


     "Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

 
     Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

     Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

     When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." ~John 6: 1-13


I think so many of us are like Philip. We come at an issue that appears to be horrendous with a negative outlook on it because we face it only with what we can comprehend in our minds. Certainly Philip did not imagine how Jesus would change this situation - he underestimated the power of his Teacher.

This boy (we don't even know his name) plays such an important role in this story. His contribution to the endeavor of feeding five thousand people didn't seem like much at all. Five loaves. Two fish. It would have been so easy for the boy to look at the situation and say, "You guys are crazy. You'll never get enough food to feed this many people!" and walk home with his dinner. But his willingness is what inspires me. He was willing to give what he had to help others, and consequently, give honor to God. 

So what's our excuse? Not enough money. Not enough time. It won't make a difference anyway. Life is too busy. 

The answer is: We have no excuse! Even if we have nothing, we have our faith in God. And with this, we can fight the problems people are facing with prayer. Don't underestimate that power! Even with these things, we can make a difference. 

But if you want to help in more ways than prayer, there are countless things to do. I will talk more about those in the future. :)