The last thing you want to forget on a long road trip are snacks. Thankfully for modern travelers, there is a FiveStar or Casey’s off every exit, stocked with enough candy to make Willy Wonka’s teeth ache, and enough greasy food to rival a McDonald’s fryer. For ancient travelers, however, heading out with an empty knapsack wasn’t just inconvenient—it could quickly turn deadly. And the disciples made this mistake when they set sail on the sea (Matt. 16:5, 7-8). They searched for a loaf of bread while they rowed, and when none was found, they panicked and, “they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread” (Mark 8:16).

One could sympathize with their fretting if they were traveling solo, but they weren’t alone. Jesus was on board with them, and He had recently fed over 10,000 people with—you guessed it—bread (cf. Matt. 14:13-21; 15:29-39). The disciples had something better than Panera Bread or Texas Roadhouse—the greatest bread Multiplier who ever lived was right beside them! Why, therefore, were they concerned about their next meal? According to Jesus, the reason for their fear was multifaceted: their memories were short, their faith was faint, and their eyes were closed.

Jesus explained their unfounded worry with a series of questions: “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” (Mark 8:17b-19a).

We may never find ourselves breadless in a boat, but there is no shortage of situations that blind us from seeing our blessings. The disciples weren’t the only ones forgetful of Christ’s miraculous workings of the past. Sometimes, we are forgetful of yesterday’s provision and yesteryear’s mighty wonders, and our present problems often seem bigger than the Lord’s power and providence. Oftentimes, the sight of our needs eclipses our sight of the Need-Meeter, who is always right beside us. Just like the disciples, we often have short memories and small faith.

Fortunately, Jesus is patient with forgetful and faithless disciples like us. However, when we fret about having no bread, we need to inquire of our souls: “Do you not see or remember?” Allow His past provision to fuel your faith in the present. Keep your eyes of faith open to see His constant providential workings in your life. Look back at Christ’s faithfulness in the past and look around at His faithful provision in the present.

The devotional column above is from my newest book, 40 Days with Jesus, which is a forty-day daily devotional focusing on the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus. This book is available in hardcover on Amazon: