“Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?'”
Mark 8:17-19
Sometimes we need to be hit over the head to see what’s right in front of us. We’re sure that the keys are lost, but then we discover them in plain view on the table. We’re certain that we’re out of milk until a second look in the refrigerator reveals an unopened pint. We do it all the time: We miss the obvious.
We also miss the obvious when it comes to God. Even though His presence is with us — His promises as clear as day — we don’t always see the Lord in the events of our lives. But we’re not the only ones. The disciples in Mark chapter 8 worried over where they could buy bread for lunch. Silly disciples. Hours earlier the Lord had whipped up a miracle lunch and fed seven loaves of bread to four thousand people.
Still, they missed the obvious. Even though the Lord was standing right there, they did not recognize Him as the Bread of Life. If Jesus had fed four thousand, could He not also feed them?
Read again Mark 8:17-19. Notice the Lord’s dismay over the unbelief of the disciples. He inasmuch says, “Are you deaf? Blind? Has your memory failed you? Or is it that your hearts are hardened?!” Jesus could scarcely believe that His disciples failed to see what was right in front of their noses.
The same is true for you. Jesus, the source of help and hope, is in the midst of every circumstance in your life.
Bread of Life… Lord of Peace… Father of all comfort… I acknowledge now that You are always with me. Please remind me, should I forget.
