Not just leftovers

Every Monday, as I ask God to show me what to post for the week, it begins a time of study and quietness before Him. Often I look to where I am in my own study but this morning He took me back to a story in Mark that I have looked at and studied before. This time He gave me a new freshness about it...maybe because it is Thanksgiving time and we all are called as Christians to have a Thankful heart. Maybe it is because it deals with "feeding" which we all can relate to this time of year. Anyway...it is in Mark 6. It is the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand (which may be how many are feeling now) Please stay with me...the details of the story is what will impact our lives.
The story unfolds in Mark 6:30. The apostles had gathered to talk to Jesus and eat but the crowds kept coming. Jesus told them to go with Him to a quiet place across the water. So the apostles and Jesus got in a boat and went across the sea, but the people followed on foot from the shore and arrived at the other side before the apostles and Jesus did. So Jesus knowing the crowds where hungry, told the disciples to feed them. The disciples were confused, and felt very overwhelmed over this task. "They said to Him, that would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" (Mark 6: 37 ) As the story continues: Jesus directs them to have everyone sit down and for the apostles to bring to Him the meager five loaves and two fish they had gathered from among the crowd. So Jesus blessed the 5 loaves and 2 fish... everyone ate and as verse 42 says "were satisfied" More amazing than the feeding of the 5,000 is that there were leftovers! Verse 43 says "The disciples picked up twelve basketful's of broken pieces of bread and fish" From those five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed 5,000 and had leftovers! (Notice that there were 12 baskets full...one for each of the disciples!)
Now that the backdrop of the story has been set up we read in Mark 6:..45 "Immediately JESUS MADE His disciples get into the boat. He went up on the mountainside to pray" (emphasis mine) The disciples had just witnessed and also participated in one of the greatest miracles. They had gathered the leftovers and may have even placed them in the boat with them. While the disciples were in the boat a storm came up. Mark 6: 48 goes on " He (Jesus) saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night He went out to them" Jesus watched from the mountain the disciples struggling against the storm...it is easy to assume that they were frightened and overwhelmed by the storm. They where so afraid that when Jesus walked past them on the water, they thought it was a ghost. Then Mark says beginning in verse 51 "He climbed into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely amazed for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened"
It is easy to excuse the disciples actions. Jesus walking on water in the middle of a storm could frightened any man. But Scripture gives us the insight of why..."They had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened" They had just witness a great miracle...proof of the miracle was in the boat with them (the leftover baskets) yet the first trial comes and they had forgotten it all. Past victories with God build our faith in present trials. Storms do come into our lives...they can come quickly or they can slowly build up momentum and last a while. Mark tells us it was in the fourth watch that Jesus came...that is in the height of the storm...when it was at its worst. Yet Jesus did come...and great comfort is given to us because we see that He watched them from the mountain (verse 48).
Jesus is never far from our storms. Jesus allows us to experience and partake in past miracles so we can face new obstacles with strong faith. His "leftovers" are validation of His power to overcome great impossibilities. What is leftover from your past victories with Christ? A healthy child, a restored marriage, a wayward child returning home? All these provide evidence of God's past work. Why do we quickly forget?

If there is a trial or storm you are facing, go back to the last time God brought you out of a difficult time. Gather those leftover memories and put them in the boat with you. Remember He is Faithful. The question is always would you rather be in the boat with Christ or on the shore alone? Christ brings rest and security through difficult times. He is watching...when the storm is at it's worst Christ is at His best! Remember and be grateful. Those leftovers are enough to carry you through.