Have you ever read a story in the Bible and felt like God was speaking directly to you? Like you were the person He wrote the story for and that everything you’d been praying about suddenly made sense. The fog was lifted and once again you could see the hope at the end of your once hopeless situation? (If not, then you should probably read your Bible more.) Well that was me today. I’ve written about this before but just like everyone else I find myself struggling to believe that God is going to be able to do that “BIG” thing in my life. You know, that thing you believe in Him for that only He can do. It’s so big that if He doesn’t show up and help you out then there is no hope for survival. Yeah THAT thing.
Though I’ve seen Him do some pretty miraculous things in my years (especially over this past year of church planting) I still struggle with trusting Him in the next chapter. For some reason once one chapter closes and the initial “wow” of what God has done begins to fade, I am back in life and everything around me seems impossible yet again. The stakes in the next situation seem higher, there is more to loose and the complexity much more difficult to navigate than before. I find myself thinking “I know what He did last time and it was great, but this time…it’s just different”. Have you been there?
Well hopefully this passage of scripture will bring you comfort as it did to me today.
11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” 13 So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.
14 But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”
16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’[a] Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
“Twelve,” they said.
20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.
Verse 21 is what did it for me. It was like Jesus was saying “Arial, don’t you understand yet?”! See the disciples had just witnessed Jesus do miraculous work after miraculous work. He fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread and there were leftovers! He healed people and brought a “sleeping” girl back to life. But still they doubted that He was capable or willing to do THIS thing. They didn’t understand. They, like us, forgot that just as Jesus was capable of doing those things, He was just as capable of doing this thing. Yes, the situation was different, and the people were different, there were no crowds to feed this time and they were the ones who forgot to pack their own food. Jesus wasn’t different though. Same God back then, same God right now. He did it then and He could do it now.
So what is THAT thing in your life that you are facing right now? Does it once again seem like you are faced against an insurmountable obstacle? Are you loosing hope while you focus on all the things that make this particular situation so different from the rest? When will you choose to realize that Jesus is still the same and He is in the boat with you? When will I choose to believe the same?
So here are some ways for us to remember what God has done and trust Him with what’s next.
- Keep a journal of prayers to God. Make notes on the ways He answered them.
- This can be a simple log style or more of a daily journal, whichever style fits you best. Having a record gives you something to reflect on for encouragement in times of doubt.
- Share your situation with other believers who can encourage you.
- One of the most powerful things is to have a community of people who believe in God just like you do. Chances are when you are doubting God they can be there to encourage you through the fog. Turn to them for support and help.
- Read your Bible
- The Bible is full of stories that are meant to encourage you but you will only find them if you read. Take time each day to read your Bible and reflect on what you read. Spend time in prayer with the Lord each day and find hope in the stories you read.
Illuminated Salt 
Great reminder, Arial!