Don’t send opportunity away

What do you have in your hand?   Are you wanting to send opportunity away?

Most of the time, that’s the basis for our willingness to obey the Lord… our willingness to obey or our willingness to serve is based on what we’ve got in our hand or what we think we can do.  Our response to the prompting of the LORD generally goes through a process of reasoning. We think, well, it looks like this situation is doable; or, yes, I think I can do this because I have enough time, money, experience, etc., etc.

The real testing of faith comes when what the Lord prompts us to do seems “impossible” or, more often, when we reject the prompting due to our apparent lack.

Matthew 14.14-16
14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.  15  And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16  But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.”

This morning as my husband was closing our time of Bible study he was saying, How many times do we send opportunities away?

We were considering how the Lord has plans for whatever comes our way and yet our response is based on what we see — sort of the “what do we have in our hand?” or what are we able to do here?  We don’t often stop and think: Hmmm, this situation looks impossible… I’m sure the Lord wants me to stay and do something here.  More often we stop and think:   Hmmm,  this situation is hopeless, I’m out of here (or , at least that ‘s what we feel like saying/doing).

How often do we send opportunity away because it seems impossible to us?  Or, because it seems impossible, how many times do we miss opportunities to see God work?

The disciples wanted to send the people away because of the “obvious” lack of provision.  But later they would see and experience that with God, nothing’s impossible.

Do you have an impossible situation in front of you today?  Don’t look at the obvious…  don’t send opportunity away seeing or thinking that you lack resources.  For, in fact *you* surely may apparently lack resources.  But watch what God will do with what you have in your hand or what He will bring.  For with God, nothing’s impossible.