This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves
There are situations in life that present undeniable impossibilities. These impossibilities stand in our way like shadowy mountains. When faced with these impossibilities, we may cower away, freeze in our tracks, attempt our own solutions, or turn to Jesus.
In Matthew 14, the disciples decided to turn to Jesus. Detailing their impossible issue, they gave Jesus a recommendation on how to take care of the situation. I can only imagine that they had talked amongst themselves and worked hard and argued until coming to the solution that they presented to Jesus: send away the people to the villages in the area to buy food.
When the disciples turned to Jesus to make a way through the impossible situation of 5,000 men plus women and children in need of food, He surprised them with his answer: “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”
Not only did Jesus provide a solution to the situation, but He let them know that their solution was not the solution needed. How many times in life do we think that the solution we have landed on is the right one just because it makes sense practically speaking?
I’m sure Jesus’s solution was hard to understand as Jesus rejected a very practical solution and presented an impossible one to address an impossible problem.
How many times in our life does Jesus ask us, when standing face to face with a shadowy mountain of impossibility, to do something impossible? How many times does Jesus ask us to step out in faith when there is nothing to step out on? How many times does Jesus tell us to give what we don’t have, wanting us to trust that when the time is right, we will have it?
The disciples didn’t have what was needed to feed that number of people. In fact, the little that they collected to bring to Jesus was almost a statement in and of itself attesting to the impossibility of feeding so many people.
Jesus, unswayed from His solution, blesses the meager five loaves and two fish and tells the disciples to feed the people.
Jesus has called my family and I to step out into impossible waters multiple times over the last three and a half years. Time and time again, Jesus, unswayed by the shadowy mountain before us, says to us, “step out.” We tell the Lord, “look at the need! What can we do?!” He responds, “you feed them.”
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to face the shadowy mountain of impossibility in your life, to lay down your natural solution at the feet of Jesus, and to do what He says. Perhaps today God is asking you to give to others what He is about to give to you (it sometimes requires a “yes” before you have the provision). Maybe God wants you to stop trying to come up with solutions on your own. Perhaps He is asking you to be brave today.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 374–380, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 14:13–21) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).