“They were all terrified when they saw Him.  But Jesus spoke to them at once.  “It’s all right,” He said.  “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”  Then He climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were astonished at what they saw. They still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the multiplied loaves, for their hearts were hard and they did not believe.” – Mark 6: 50-52 NLT

I guess it would be difficult to quantify with any kind of certainty which single miracle of the many miracles Jesus performed was the most substantial – the one that made the greatest impact or had the most influence.  Without a doubt, the feeding of the five thousand would rank right up there – especially when you consider the number of people it affected.

Can you imagine being one of the disciples that day?  Five thousand hungry men (plus all the women and children present) were sat in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty.  With only five loaves of bread and two whole fish to go around, Jesus blessed the food and the disciples started to distribute it.  In the Apostle Mark’s account of the event, he writes, “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.”

Unbelievable!  Can you imagine witnessing this event in person? Would you ever forget it?  Would the day be etched in your mind forever?

Well…it only took the disciples until that very night to forget it even happened.

After feeding the crowd, Jesus instructed his disciples to go on ahead of him by boat to Bethsaida while He remained – going up the mountainside to pray.  When they reached the middle of the lake, a strong windstorm took hold of the boat. Jesus, seeing their peril, started to walk across the lake toward them.  As He approached the boat, none of His disciples recognized Him – mistaking Him for ghost!  As soon as Jesus stepped inside of that boat, the wind died down and the storm ceased. As the Bible verse states above, the disciples were astonished!

But wait a second. What happened during the miracle feeding of the five thousand earlier that day? Didn’t they just witness one of the greatest miracles of all time that very afternoon?  Weren’t they astonished and amazed then?  What made the walking on water and the calming of the storm that evening any different?

As Mark writes, their hearts were hardened.  They didn’t fully understand or believe what happened earlier that day.  It only took a few hours, but they forgot entirely about Christ’s power demonstrated in the feeding of the five thousand.

How about you?  Are you in the middle of a storm right now in your health, your finances, or your relationships?  Has the intensity of the storm caused you to forget about God’s faithfulness to you in the past?  Are you failing to remember the miracles God has performed in your life?

We can easily chastise the disciples for their lack of awareness.  How could you forget about such an obvious miracle – especially when it only happened earlier that day?  How could you live through an experience like that and not come away from it totally changed – brandishing a level of faith that was forever unshakable?  How could they be in that storm and not say to themselves, “It’s ok, Jesus will take care of us!”?

But before we get too critical, what about the storms of our life and our view of them?  Do we quickly remember God’s faithfulness or do we sink into despair, depression and feelings of fear?  Does the storm distract us from the peace and assurance Christ gives us when He says, “It’s all right, I am here!  Don’t be afraid.”?

I know if I had to answer these questions with any degree of honesty, I would have to admit that many times the storm has gotten the best of  me.  It consumed my thoughts, stirred up my emotions, and left me wondering and doubting where God was in the moment.

Instead of quickly forgetting, how can we quickly remember God’s faithfulness?  What can we do to look for God first when the storms of life are raging around us?

Visual Reminders

What visual reminders do you have around you, in your home, at your office, or in your vehicle that remind you of God’s faithfulness in the past?

Posting visual reminders helps you remember God’s miracles of the past.  It keeps you in a constant state of awareness– thinking about God’s grace, mercy, and provision that has followed you throughout your life.

Here are a couple of examples of things I have done through the years to help me.  I use the refrigerator in my apartment to post my favorite Scriptures – reminders of God’s promises to me when I face hardship or difficulty.   I have a picture in my living room that reminds me of God’s involvement, direction, and loving guidance through some difficult times I faced a few years ago.  Sometimes I use my kitchen countertop –opening my Bible to a passage that addresses a current storm I face, or I post pictures or quotes on the mirror in my bathroom that help me recall God’s presence in my life and circumstances. In my vehicle, I have an angel pin on my visor – a constant reminder that God is watching over me wherever I go.

Do you need more visual reminders around you – things that help you remember God’s faithfulness?

End Each Day Recalling God’s Faithfulness   

Make it a daily habit to spend a little quiet time each evening reflecting on God’s faithfulness that day.  Spend some time thanking Him for any answered prayers, signs of His presence, or evidence of His grace that day.

Every day, there are so many constants going on around us that we take for granted or unconsciously ignore.  A beating heart, the sunrise and dawning of a new day, food to eat, shelter that protects us…..and the list goes on!

When we spend time recalling and thanking God for all that faithfully transpires each day, we are embracing a “God-awareness” mindset – helping us to see God first in each aspect of life – especially the storms that easily distract us.

You might consider keeping a journal – recording how God has revealed Himself to you each day – an excellent way to be reminded of His faithfulness!

My prayer for each of us today is that we never forget about the miracles God performs in our life – helping us to face with confidence our current storms and uncertainties.  I hope you clearly hear God telling you tonight, “It’s all right. I am here! Don’t be afraid.

God bless!