Frozen Solid

Commentators are agreed that our present national financial situation is grim. Yesterday's growth figures reveal a sluggish performance, made worse by the cold weather, and cartoonists are enjoying making jokes about the effects of the wrong sort of snow.
But at a local level, services provided by Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council will also be cut, and those at the vulnerable end will be most affected. Most households will notice the effects of the freezing economic conditions too, with rising food and fuel prices. What can we do?
Having been enjoying listening to the Gospels from 'You've Got the Time', I have been struck by the many time Jesus asks his disciples, 'Where is your faith?' Having fed the hungry 5000 with the five loaves and two fish, both Matthew & Mark tell of another feeding miracle, when 4000 are fed. Following that stunning miracle, Jesus and his disciples get into a boat and a revealing discussion ensues. 'At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterwards?” “Twelve,” they said.  “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?” “Seven,” they said. “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.' (Mark 8.16-21)
The disciples are frozen solid in their unbelief - and I easily identify with them on this. On the other hand, Jesus keeps reminding them that he has provided for them and others. One of our values, as a church, is that we say we believe that 'God provides the resources and the people with the gifts for the mission & ministry He desires'.
So as we look forward, we all need to learn to trust Him with an uncertain future, and ask Jesus to thaw us out from a faith which is frozen solid. When we see how He provides, even when we thought the situation was hopeless, then to Him will go the glory.
Best wishes,
Richard