Matthew 14:13-21

Matthew 14:13-21 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  There are so many intriguing moments in the Gospels -- here, you have the disciples asking Jesus to tell the crowds to go away.  They're thinking of the people, as they're in a desolate place without food, but it's odd to imagine someone imploring Jesus to send huge crowds away.  Can you imagine that atmosphere in a church?  "Send these people away from church!"
  Jesus' response is to empower the disciples.  He hints that there is plenty there, but the disciples only see lack.  They can't imagine beyond what they know.
  This happens to each of us -- we get so stuck in a situation that we can only see one way out.  We get tunnel vision when we're stressed, and we fixate on a single solution.  We can't imagine an alternative.  We can't imagine that Jesus might answer our prayer in any way other than the one we see.  We do this when we pray for the sick -- we're so certain that we know what healing looks like, but healing can take many forms, and just because the miracle we long for doesn't come, that doesn't mean Jesus isn't still at work in that sacred place.
  God loves you, and Ephesians 3 reminds us that God can do infinitely more than we ask or imagine.  So sit down in his presence, be still and receive.