Devotion: He Can Do It Again

Watching a baby master new skills is one of the greatest joys of parenthood. Their first rollovers elicit cheers, and we reward them with kisses when they clumsily crawl toward a favorite toy. For weeks we coach them to take that first step, and then we celebrate as if our little ones scored the winning goal in overtime.

When my youngest took his first steps, I caught it on video. His fan club, consisting of me and his two older sisters, danced around him in pure joy. He took only a few steps, but our applause rivaled the crowd at the finish line of a marathon. Of course, we had to replay it when Daddy got home. My baby boy reached a big milestone that night. We were wild with pride.

The next day, I watched for more steps. Each time he pulled up on the furniture, I expected a toddle-toddle-plop to follow. Instead, he cautiously lowered himself to the floor. As the weeks progressed, he avoided biped mobility. He felt comfortable crawling on all fours and stuck with it. Finally, a few months after those first surprising steps, he started walking.

In the time between his first steps and his eventual commitment to walk, I didn’t worry. I had seen him walk once, so I knew he was capable. He just had to make up his mind to be a walker. I encouraged him, but I didn’t fret over his reluctance. He did it once; he could do it again.

God Can Do It Again

When I read the miracles recorded in the Bible, I tend to let them stay on the page. I downsize the power of God into a historical account. In reality, the God who orchestrated the miracles of the Old and New Testaments is the same God I pray to each day. If he did it once, he can do it again.

Let’s look at the miracle of multiplying food. The most well-known account is Jesus feeding the five thousand. All four Gospels record this miracle. A crowd follows Jesus around, soaking in his teaching. Eventually, they get hungry, and Jesus asks his disciples to feed them. They give a human answer to a God-sized request: “Are you serious? You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?” (Mark 6:37 MSG). At Jesus’s request, they produce five loaves and two fish. Jesus blesses it, divides it, and feeds the crowd until they’re full—with twelve baskets of food left over.

After witnessing something like that, one would think the disciples’ faith would increase. Yet a short time later they find themselves in the same situation. A listening crowd begins to show signs of hunger. This time they number only four thousand. Jesus asks the disciples to feed the crowd again, and again they respond from their human capabilities: “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” (Matt. 15:33 ESV). Jesus asks them to bring what they have—seven loaves and a few small fish. He blesses it, divides it, and feeds the crowd until they’re full, with seven baskets of food left over.

This Wasn’t the First Time

While these two miracles are enough to encourage belief in the power of God, this wasn’t the first time a loaf of bread had fed hundreds. A lesser-known account of multiplying bread is found in 2 Kings 4. Amid famine, a man brings twenty loaves of bread to Elisha, and Elisha asks him to feed the one hundred men surrounding him. The servant asks, “‘How can I set this [bread] before a hundred men?’” (2 Kings 4:43 ESV). Sound familiar? Elisha speaks the word of the Lord over the servant and his not-enough bread, saying, “‘They shall eat and have some left’” (2 Kings 4:43 ESV). That’s exactly what happened. One hundred men shared twenty loaves, and some bread was left over.

The disciples knew the Scriptures. During their religious training, they heard the story of Elisha and the twenty loaves. Yet on the hillside, with only an armful of food, they looked at those five thousand faces and doubted. Then, a few days later, with muscles still aching after carrying the twelve baskets of leftovers, they stared at four thousand hungry people and wondered how to feed them.

I Need to Remember Too

I am quick to judge the disciples for their lack of faith. How soon they forget the power and faithfulness of God! Their doubt puzzles me, in part, because I know the whole story. I know the man standing on the hillside with them is the Son of God. His hands hold the power to both create and multiply the fish they will soon eat. I believe Jesus can do the impossible.

At the same time, I say my prayers while simultaneously wondering how God can fix the broken places in my life. Like the disciples, I am quick to forget what God did for me in the past. I minimize the stories of his amazing power found both in the pages of Scripture and in the stories of the believers around me.

When I look at a mess in front of me, these leftover loaves of bread remind me he can do it again.

He can provide for every need again.

He can restore broken relationships again.

He can bring the prodigal back home again.

He can forgive again.

He can heal again.

He can do anything again.

Father, thank you for the reminder that you are a powerful and repeating God. Help us to remember your power and your extravagant love for us even in the hardest of times. Strengthen our faith with reminders of miracles past.

Scripture for Reflection

Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20–21 CSB)

And now, GOD, do it again—
bring rains to our drought-stricken lives
So those who planted their crops in despair
will shout hurrahs at the harvest,
So those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. (Ps. 126:4–6 MSG)

Reach for More

Journaling is one of the best ways to remember God’s faithfulness through the years. If you don’t have a prayer journal, grab a notebook and a pen. Begin to record your prayers and the many ways God answers them.

If you already have a prayer journal, take some time this weekend to look back through the pages and remember. Allow the memories of God’s faithfulness yesterday to strengthen your faith for tomorrow.

As always, we love to hear from you! Share your miracles and memories on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore.

Kelly Smith is a small town girl who married a small town man. They have three children. In the quiet minutes of her day, you will find her at the keyboard or curled up with a book–always with coffee. Kelly believes we are created for community and loves to find ways to connect with other women who are walking in the shadow of the cross. She blogs at mrsdisciple.com.