In Our Hour of Desolation

Today my bible reading was about Jesus feeding the 4,000 with just seven loaves and a few small fish. It is a miracle, of course, but I noticed things in that passage I had never focused on before. For the past two weeks, I have been counseling a scared, pregnant young teen. She has made an amazing transformation in that time from abortion-determined and in her words hell-bound to submitting her life to Jesus and determined to carry her baby to term. But she is terrified. I text her often, every day. I thought of her and wrote to her of my thoughts as I pondered this often quoted miracle of our Lord.

 “In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and *said to them, “I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” And He *directed the people to sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to serve to them, and they served them to the people. They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be served as well. And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. About four thousand were there; and He sent them away.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:1-9‬ ‭

Notice Jesus’ disciples ask him, “ Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy all these people?” First, they KNOW there is not enough bread to feed 40 people, let alone 4,000. Secondly, they recognize that the people are in a DESOLATE place. That is a place that is lonely, empty, with no food or help for them. There is no way to satisfy the overwhelming need. It is a place so many of us find ourselves. 

I have often been in such a place. Likely, you have too. We all have or will find ourselves in a desperate, desolate place with no hope of sustenance or provision. We hunger for something we cannot possibly hope to find in that terrible desolation. Maybe that is where you feel you are right now! 

But look at what Jesus does. First, He gives THANKS. He knows that His Father will provide against impossible odds more than enough to not only take the edge off their hunger but SATISFY all those people. He doesn’t wait till after His Father comes through with the goods. He gives thanks FIRST. Then, He divides (or actually multiplies) the food and not only cares for the immediate needs of all those people, but abundantly, overwhelmingly meets the needs, with leftovers for the journey home...

Remember, the Gospel was written when some of those people were still alive. Why weren’t they pouring out of the woodwork screaming that Christianity was based on a lie? Instead, the followers of Christ grew at a phenomenal rate in those early years.

Those who had been in the wilderness with Jesus at this time KNEW personally of this miracle. They KNEW it wasn’t a lie. 

And what Jesus did for them in that desolate place, He can do for you and He can do for me. In gratitude to our Heavenly Father, we can and should FIRST give thanks for His provision when we are in a desperate, desolate place. Then, trust Him. He who numbers every hair on our head is standing with us right now. In the hour of our deepest need, He will satisfy.

Everything is possible with God