“On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, ‘Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.” Luke 9:10-17
The apostles had just recounted all they had done with their vested authority, proclaiming the kingdom of God and healing diseases. But as the day wore on, possibility had lost ground to desolate, miraculous power to dearth. Energy for the supernatural got sleepy in their minds and the monochromatic practical loomed large: the crowds were hungry and there was no food and it was time to leave. How could these zealous disciples change their tune from excitement over miracles to the problem of impossibility so quickly? Jesus’s words challenged their thinking and engaged them in higher work once again. He had them participate so they knew there was no end, no waning, of His power. (Luke 9:1-6)
As our days wear away, how does our outlook change? Do vision, zeal, hope, or expectation wane? Do early possibilities with faith slip to probable failures and fear? Does exhaustion drown enthusiasm or accomplishment swallow adrenaline?
After a successful campaign or meaningful God-given victory, do we fall away from vital dependence on our Lord? Have we experienced the high of an infusion of divine energy and wisdom for a particular cause, then after its conclusion feared we could not perform? Have we known with personal intimacy God’s outpouring of love and care, yet later fallen to self-pity?
The Lord’s strength is limitless, His goodness never failing, His faithfulness eternal. His mercies are fresh for every morning, and evening. As days wear away, we need not. A consistent life of vibrant faith maintains vigor and trust through every hour. What triggers lapses in expectancy from God, and how will we retrain our mindset to remain anticipative of His bountiful, amazing grace? (Psalm 36:5; Lamentations 3:22-23)
“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.” ~Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)
Father, teach me the steadiness You exemplify. Keep me consistent in vigor and holy expectancy, that You be magnified in every moment.
As the rain and snow 