“If you see your troubles as nothing more than isolated hassles and hurts, you’ll grow bitter and angry. But if you see your troubles as opportunities to trust God and his ability to multiply what you give him, even the smallest incidents take on significance. . . . Count first on Christ. He can help you do the impossible. You simply need to give him what you have and watch him work.”- Max Lucado
Max Lucado concludes Chapter 5 of Never Alone as he underscores that the problems we face serve as opportunities for Christ to prove this point. That what we cannot do, He does! So, in the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus chose to use the single basket of a small boy.
Therefore, Max asks:
“What’s in your basket? All you have is a wimpy prayer? Give it. . . . All you have is strength for one step? Take it. It’s not for you and me to tell Jesus our gift is too small. God can take a small thing and do a big thing. . . . He used three nails and a cross to redeem humanity. If God can turn a basket into a buffet with food to spare, don’t you think he can do something with your five loaves and two fishes of faith?”
Biddy Chambers believed this. God assigned her to partner with her husband in teaching the Bible. While living in London, Biddy, a trained stenographer, took careful notes of her husband’s lectures. Then, she turned them into correspondence courses for their Bible college.
When World War I broke out, Biddy’s husband felt called to minister to soldiers in Egypt. He taught, she transcribed. Tragically, her husband died at the age of forty-three from complications due to appendicitis.
However, Biddy continued on. She took on the task of turning her husband’s notes into pamphlets. Eventually, Biddy compiled them into a book – My Utmost for His Highest. To date, Oswald Chambers’ book has sold more than thirteen million copies and been translated into over thirty-five languages.
In conclusion, Max exhorts: “You may feel outnumbered, but [God] does not. Give him what you have, give thanks, and watch him go to work.”
Today’s question: Do you tend to view your troubles as isolated hassles and hurts? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The sky will darken, the winds will rage”
