By Sandi Ashcraft.
NEEDS – they inundate us daily. Check your news station or news feed and you will be bombarded with so many needs: children suffering, families in ruin, human trafficking, natural disasters, terrorism, famine, war. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and even paralyzed because the needs in our world are so great, and our resources are so limited. What difference can we possibly make?
This is the situation the disciples found themselves in – Jesus was teaching 5,000 families in the wilderness, it was late, and there was no food. When they discussed this need with Jesus, He told the disciples to take care of it themselves. Their response was that it would take a year’s salary (which none of them had) to buy enough food to feed a crowd of that size. But Jesus didn’t let them off the hook. He asked them, “How much bread do YOU have?” After checking, they reported back that they had exactly enough to feed one person: five loaves and two fish. Jesus took it, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples to distribute. After putting the loaves and fish into His hands, it became enough to satisfy the hungry crowd, and the disciples even picked up 12 baskets of leftovers! (Mark 6:30-44, John 6:1-15)
Did Jesus need the help of the disciples to feed all those people? Did he even need the loaves and fish? No! The One who spoke all of creation into being didn’t need the boy’s lunch or the disciples’ help, but He chose to involve them and allow them to participate in this miracle.
Where does He want to use you in meeting a need He has brought to your attention? Don’t focus on what you lack. Don’t downplay, discredit, or discount the resources you’ve been given. Look at what you DO have and put that time, talent, or treasure in the hands of the One who can make it more than enough. Will it be a sacrifice? Yes. Will it require work? Of course. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!
Sandi lives in Rogers with her husband, Jeff, and their son, Isaac. They have been coming to Grace Hills since the launch team started meeting in 2011 and feel blessed to be a part of what God is doing there.