Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
There was a problem–a big problem! Thousands of people had spent an entire day listening to Jesus preach and teach, but now they were all hungry, and there was no food anywhere . . . expect for the meager rations that a little boy offered to the disciples, enough food to feed perhaps ten people. This problem became a possibility for Jesus to show that He truly is the Bread of Life, and He did! He fed every man, woman, and child, and there were baskets full of leftovers.
Another problem: “There is no more wine!” The host of the wedding was completely out of wine to serve the guests. This problem became a possibility for Jesus to show that He is the promised, divine Messiah, for new wine symbolizes the Holy Spirit. And He did! He turned water into wine–the best wine!
Neither of these problems were life-and-death issues. The people who had been listening to Jesus teach could have gone into town or gone home to get food, although they probably would have been disappointed and “hangry.” The people at the wedding could have carried on without wine, although it would have been an embarrassment of gargantuan proportions for the host family. Most of the problems we face are not life-and-death either, but they are problems nonetheless. The important issue is not so much what we are facing, but rather how we face those problems.
Where do you turn when you are facing problems in life? Do you look inside yourself for the solution? Or do you look outside yourself . . . and look up? When you turn to Jesus, talk to Jesus, and trust in Jesus, you will see how your problems become possibilities for Jesus to do great things in your life.
Because Jesus is for us, with us, and in us, we are to look to Him for the solutions to our problems and the answers to our questions. Jesus cares about everything we care about, and He is ready, willing, and able to help us through it all. Jesus cares about our flat tire, our delayed flight, and our sleepless night. Jesus cares about our toothache, our first date, and when we have to work late.
Regardless of the problems you are facing today, follow Mary’s advice to the servants at the wedding: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). When you do, you will see Jesus turn your problems into possibilities for grace to flow in and through your life.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 