“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
Psalm 23:1-3
We are in a sermon series in the book of Mark at church right now. Our pastor preached today on the feeding of the 5,000 and he said some things that got me thinking about rest and recuperation. So often we think that we recuperate when we are all alone in a desert place—a quiet place. But perhaps we recuperate in the middle of trusting God, even in the overwhelming crowd.
In Mark 6:31, Jesus calls His disciples away to a quiet place to get some rest. It was after John the Baptist’s death, it was after they had been sent two by two to do the work of the ministry. They were grieving, they were tired, and the city was filled with many people for the coming Passover. When Jesus told them to come to the desert place, He knew full well that the people would follow them there. His plan to recuperate included the crowds.
The crowds were overwhelming and they wouldn’t go home. The disciples were just as hungry as the people were. When the situation is overwhelming, when we think we don’t have enough, when we are facing an unbelievable mess, we just want to fix things. “Send them away.” We play the martyr: “Should I give up my money, my time, my things?” Sometimes God brings us to the end of ourselves so that we can fully trust Him for provision and rest. We just want to fix things, instead of participating in God’s miracle.
We just want to fix things, instead of participating in God’s miracle.
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As in Psalm 23, so in Mark 6:39 He commanded them to sit in groups in the green grass. (And right now, I would love to see some green grass). And there in the green pastures, Jesus performed a miracle. The disciples and the people needed the miracle more than they needed the rest. After the miracle all were satisfied.
When you think all you need is to get away and alone to recuperate, look for the ways you can participate in the miracles of God. Trusting that God is sufficient and that He will meet your needs will leave you filled and satisfied just like the 5,000.
look for the ways you can participate in the miracles of God.
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Julie A Wilson 