Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash
I love back-to-school shopping! I know this is just another seasonal rotation for stores and may bring about panic for others - but for me, I could spend an hour going up and down aisles looking at every single item. From superhero folders to animal-shaped pencil pouches, and every possible calculator imaginable - I’m here for it all.
I’m not sure where this affinity came from. I don’t have specific memories of shopping for school supplies, but every year I had just what I needed. Teachers came together and made a list of what they wanted for their students. Don’t get me wrong, some of the requests seemed far out there. Why do you need six different colors of folders? Or a box of dry erase markers that is only blue? What seemed ridiculous and random to others was actually intentional and meaningful for the work that was to come.
We’ve all experienced a time where we felt like an outsider regarding something the Lord has put before us. Weariness, confusion, angst or doubt can creep in regardless of our best efforts to remain faithful. The disciples also dealt with this reality. In Mark 8, we find Jesus responding with compassion towards the 4,000+ people He had been teaching to for days. He presented the idea to the disciples that they should feed everyone before the crowd was sent home. And the disciples' responded to what they could see: a desolate location with too many mouths to feed and a meager amount of food to share. To them, the math wasn’t mathing; but thankfully, Jesus wasn't teaching them how to feed a crowd with limited resources.
He was calling them to faithfully submit to the plan Jesus put before them. Commit to serve even when they didn’t know how things were going to work out. Jesus had been nourishing this crowd’s spiritual hunger by giving them great news that the Kingdom of God was here and their parting gift was a physical representation of who that kingdom was for - any and everyone willing to put their love and trust in Jesus Christ. This story gives us a glimpse of the ministry the disciples would be called into; and we, as the body of believers, are also called to take part in that same mission.
Now, there is no miracle as to how classrooms get their supplies. Teachers know what the needs are, commit to a plan and expectantly wait for the items to come in. Where do you find yourself currently? Are you wandering and wondering unsure what you need to do? Are you stressed or overwhelmed by the things being asked of you that don’t make sense? Or maybe you are waiting for “it” to happen but never did anything seem so far from coming to pass.
Brothers and sisters, may we be a people marked by faith to confidently live in a way that reflects what we profess each week in our benediction: God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think;” what may see random or meager could be purposeful and miraculous for His Kingdom. May we bring our request to him, commit to serving faithfully while waiting obediently as more and more of His beautiful plan is revealed in His time. “Oh, my child, let go I know you’re uneasy, but I’m in controlI don’t need that much for Me to showI’ll make the most of your fishes and loaves.” - Josiah Queen
Your sister in Christ,
Kailea Allen
P.S. For those that have read this far and feel compelled to peruse the back-to-school aisles, consider donating to Richland Elementary School’s annual Backpack Bash. There is more information below on how you can bless and connect with this Ministry Partner.
