Less than a year ago my little family made the big geological move from Brazil to the USA. We had served with a mission organization for over seven years and clearly understood from the Lord that our time in Brazil had come to an end. After prayer and careful deliberation, we believed that we were to move to the USA, where my wife originally is from.
Plans were made, a visa arranged, and we trusted God was going to provide for everything we could not take care of. A few months after our big move we started to realize that next to nothing went according to what we had planned. Years in missions had taught us to not cling to human plans too tightly but we have young kids, so a little planning can go a long way. Jobs did not come through, physical calamity struck, and our little financial reserve started to dry up.
Looking back at those days, about half a year ago, I find myself looking like one of the disciples in the boat with Jesus, arguing about the fact that they did not bring enough food. (Mark 8 :14-21) Jesus warns the disciples of the ‘yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod’. Reading the passage in Mark 8 we come to understand that this yeast symbolizes doubt, or unbelief. The disciples had, just like my wife and I, seen Jesus do remarkable things in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
Unfortunately, at times we get too distracted by the difficulties that face us to remember everything that God has done for us and believing He can do it again. The Disciples had seen Jesus feed the crowd of 5000 yet they were worried about the lack of food for just their small group. They knew Jesus, they had seen his miracles, but did not have faith. A tiny bit of yeast (unbelief) affected the entire dough (the disciples) as they found themselves arguing.
When we continue reading in Mark 8, not too much later, in verse 31-33, we find Peter reprimanding Jesus because Peter is not ready to understand that our Lord Jesus must suffer many terrible things. Jesus in return rebukes Peter: “Get away from me Satan!” He said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Back to my family after our move to the USA. We found ourselves in a situation where I, the husband and father, was surrounded by such a challenging situation that I started to doubt Gods plan for our life. I prayed to God, I begged for help, but unbelief for this specific situation had started to find root. Some of this yeast of the Pharisees had found room to grow in my life.
Mostly because, just like Peter, I had paid much more attention to the humane point of view, looking for jobs everywhere except for the place where I get to serve God most intentionally. Not too long after I reached this point of not seeing any possible solution we got invited back into full-time ministry. God had a plan, a solution, and an answer for us all along.
It is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of this life and forget all the good God has done for us, and all those that He loves. When you find yourself in desperation, remember those times that Jesus fed the 5000 in your life, and believe He can do it again. God is the same that was, that is, and is to come!
– Anonymous Disciple Maker USA & South America
How do you pray for your father? How should you pray for your father? Here is a quick shortlist of 7 prayers that we can declare over our fathers.
Read: A Father and a Martyr
