IN NEED'S SHADOW

WEEK TWO
IN NEEDS SHADOW
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
Matthew 14:15-16 (NIV)

We learned the injured man’s name was James. He had a number of wounds on his face, arms and hands, and was bleeding. He was unable to tell us what had happened or how he had come to be lying in the road. My hands were empty, I had nothing to offer; I couldn’t “fix” him. I suddenly felt very small standing in the shadow of James’ need.

The disciples must have felt so inadequate as they stood in the shadow of need cast by five thousand hungry people. The disciples thought it would be best to send the crowd to the nearby villages to buy food. But Jesus had told them to feed them. The disciples stood looking down at the little they had: five loaves of bread and two fish. What good could so little do against such great need?

They placed the little they had into Jesus’ hands. The little turned into more than enough to meet the hunger of five thousand people, with twelve baskets left over.

“I’m thirsty,” James said softly. I hurried to the car and found a bottle of water tucked in the front seat. “It’s not much,” I muttered under my breath as I made my way back to James. Suddenly, I was aware of His sweet Presence going with me, and decided to place the little I had into His hands – you know the ones with dark scars in the center. As I knelt next to James and watched him drink the water, I saw a little give relief to a great thirst.

My friend, don’t let needs shadow paralyze you. Instead, take the little you have, place it in His hands, and leave the results to Him. Glory!

An Original Conversations at the Well
Copyright by Diana Morgan March 21, 2011