Soul Scientist

We all might know at least a little bit about the John 6:1-15 miracle of Jesus using 5 loaves and 3 fishes to feed 5,000+ people. Yet, I learned today that some commentators suggest this could be the only time that many (if not all) of those people were able to eat until full. These people were most likely poor and thus, didn’t expect being able to eat until full the food given to them by Jesus. Yet they were all filled all the way up and there was twelve baskets of leftovers remaining.

I think this could describe how I often come to Jesus. I’m emptily looking for a morsel but not expecting a miracle. Praying to Almighty God for just enough to satisfy but not expecting Him to meet my need completely and more. In other words, I believe God can do all things but struggle with believing He will do all things for me.

George Muller didn’t just say prayers to his God. He expected prayers to be answered by his God. And God provided exceedingly, abundantly for Muller’s requests in ways unmistakably marked as from God. Bakers being prompted to wake in the middle of the night to bake bread for Muller’s orphanage breakfast. Milk delivery men offloading all the milk from a broken truck in front of the orphanage door. Donors sending monies that arrive at the specific moment and amount needed because the monies had been mailed weeks or months before the need was even known. These and other such stories served as marker signs and memorial stones for Muller and all involved in the receiving of what God was giving.

Muller didn’t focus on the need. He focused on God as Able to meet the need.

That’s exactly the kind of faith I need for my life today.

And I just bet that’s the kind of faith you’re longing and looking for today, too.

Elijah prayed and God held the rain back for three years. Esther and her staff prayed and God provided escape for her people. David prayed and God brought the giant down. Solomon prayed and God gave divine wisdom. Paul prayed and God opened prison doors. Daniel prayed and God shut lions’ mouths. And countless others prayed and God did what was needed, when it was needed.

And that’s just a few stories from Scripture.

There are countless others’ stories in Scripture and history. Stories based on the prayers of a person or people residing in God’s promises of protection, provision, and peace arising from a faith resting in God for all times and in all ways. People who knew and used a mustard-seed faith given by God in returning to God their confident and expecting prayers.

It’s one thing to say the words.

It’s altogether something else to believe the words.

Because when I believe, I expect to receive whatever God has for me. And that His provision and plans are good, even if they might not look good to me.

I’m guessing that Elijah didn’t want the implications of famine from a three-year drought. Nor Daniel wanted to spend a night in the lions’ den or Paul in jail. Nor Esther wanted the potentially deadly walk into the king’s throne room. And the little boy who gave his lunch for the feeding of the 5,000+ might not have been all in on sharing his bread and fish. Those are just a few of the didn’t-want-works necessary for God’s miracles to be made manifest in their lives and others.

Similarly, I didn’t want the life changes from chronic illness or cancer. Yet God has intentionally used them as fertilizer for growing faith in the soil of my soul. I’ve seen the same happen with multiple friends and family. They didn’t choose their hard life circumstances but have distinctly grown in faith from God’s work in their lives through the circumstances.

Scripture doesn’t tell us directly if Esther or Elijah, Daniel or Paul, or others were filled up and over-the-top with the delight of God’s Presence in their lives. Yet we could posit they were filled as they and others around them marveled at His power at work in and for them.

Because before filling can happen, emptying must occur.

An emptying of self-made plans and people. An emptying of desires and dreams. An emptying of logic and being let-down. An emptying of time and temptation to doubt.

Even though emptying isn’t easy, it’s definitely worth doing.

My releasing of what I can do for what He wants to do is always marked by submission, humility, and acceptance. Acceptance of His will and my worship of Him. Submission to His plan and my participation. Humility of my choices and conditions for His working.

Then in the emptying of myself, I’m ready to receive His filling for obedience to His plans and growth of His fruit in my life. There’s nothing that compares with the full-up satisfaction of the shalom found in Him being on the throne in my life (instead of me).

That kind of filling is far better than any bread, fish, or plan I could hope for, make, design, or buy. Because that kind of filling is beyond idea or imagination because little is much when God is in it.

And that kind of filling is exactly what I want and pray for today in a watching, waiting, and worshipping faith in my Good God Who does what He says He’ll do at all times in all circumstances for all people.    

Philippians 4:13 GNT I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2025.