John 6:30-35
Bill was taking his family on their long-awaited vacation. He was sure he knew every detail of the route, but eventually he realized he was lost. He looked at the road signs and tried to find his location on the map, but there was nothing to tell him his whereabouts. He must have taken a wrong turn. “How am I ever going to find the hotel!” he wondered. Right then, his daughter looked up at him and smiled. “Don’t worry, Daddy!” she said. “Everything will be fine.”
This stressed-out father’s predicament is very similar to what the crowd in John’s Gospel experienced. They were on a journey toward God, and they thought they knew where they were going.
But Jesus didn’t match up with their expectations. They couldn’t believe he was the one God had sent, so they needed a sign first. They asked for more bread, like the bread he had given them earlier (John 6:1-14).
Then, Jesus told them that he was the bread they sought. How could they ever get their minds around that?
Have you ever felt like the people in this crowd—or this anxious traveler? It can be
tempting to look for a sign from God,
something that will utterly convince you that you are walking in his will.
- He may well give such a sign, but even then we may be tempted to doubt or second-guess him.
- In whatever state of mind we’re in, we can be sure that he does have a message for us.
- In the quiet of our hearts, he wants to tell us: “I am with you. Whatever path you choose in faith, I will guide you—even if you can’t see me.”
Why do we sometimes feel like the unsure traveler in our spiritual walk?
- Because God wants us to follow him like a child, in complete surrender—
- but we often choose to walk our own way.
- And thus we get confused and begin to fear we have followed the wrong road.
- At these times, we need to know that our Father trusts us,
- and that he wants us to learn to trust him.
- He wants to teach us to focus our eyes on him—and try our best not worry so much about the details!
“Lord, thank you for being with me
when I’m uncertain and confused.
Help me to see that your strength and wisdom
are all that I need.”
