Do You Still Not Understand?
This morning, while getting ready for church, I was reading the book of Mark. I kept reading, and then I came across a question from Jesus that stopped me:
“Do you still not understand?”
I had read these stories before. I knew about the five loaves and two fish. I knew Jesus fed thousands of people. I knew there were twelve baskets left over. These were Bible stories I had heard and remembered for years.
But this morning, I understood something I had never understood before.
The disciples were worried because they only had one loaf of bread with them. And Jesus began reminding them of what they had already witnessed.
When He fed the five thousand, how many baskets were left?
Twelve.
When He fed the four thousand, how many baskets were left?
Seven.
Then He asked them:
“Do you still not understand?”
That question was so profound to me.
It was as if He was saying, After everything you have already seen Me do, do you still not understand? Do you still not trust Me? Do you still not believe?
They were looking at the one loaf they had in front of them while forgetting the baskets they had already seen Him fill.
And I realized how often we do the same thing.
We look at what we have right now. We look at the problem in front of us. We look at the debt, the disappointment, the uncertainty, the thing that has not happened yet, or the thing we cannot figure out—and we forget the baskets.
We forget what God has already done.
Today, I started thinking about my own life. I began remembering places God has allowed me to travel, experiences He has allowed me to have, things He has brought me through, and doors He has opened. I thought about what He has done for me on one income, through trials and tribulations, through heartbreak, loss, financial struggles, mistakes, and seasons when I had more natural in me than spiritual.
And yet, God has been good to me.
I started out counting countries and continents.
But somewhere along the way, I realized I was counting my baskets.
And I am grateful.
The baskets remind me that when all I can see is the one loaf, I have history with God.
That does not mean I know what He is going to do next. It does not mean everything will happen the way I want it to happen. It means I know Who has been with me through what has already happened.
So when I cannot see the next chapter, I have to stay with God.
When the natural tells me there is no evidence, stay with God.
When fear tries to make me forget what He has already done, stay with God.
When I don't understand, stay with God.
When I am blessed, stay with God.
When I am waiting, stay with God.
There are still chapters of my life that I have not lived yet. I cannot see them from where I am standing today, but neither could I see many of the chapters that God has already allowed me to live.
So today, I am choosing to remember.
Five loaves. Two fish. Twelve baskets.
Seven loaves. A few fish. Seven baskets.
And one question:
“Do you still not understand?”
Lord, when I become consumed with the one loaf in front of me, help me remember the baskets behind me.
Help me remember what You have already done.
Help me stay spiritual when the natural gets loud.
Help me trust You when I cannot see evidence of what comes next.
Most of all, help me to stay with You.
Because if You never do another thing, You have already been good to me.
And when I forget, Lord, remind me:
Count your baskets.
I write to be a terror to the enemy.
If this reflection met you where you are, you can find the book in the shop, and ongoing reflections under the Reflections tab.
Le’Yonce
© L’Tanya ArhemaWord Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
