Visible Hands for an Invisible God

(Exodus 14:19–31, Matthew 14:13–21)

September 13, 2026 — Wellfleet UMC

Are You Feeling Overwhelmed?

Dearly beloved sisters and brothers in Christ, are you feeling overwhelmed today? Last week, Norma came up to me and asked a caring question. She said, "When I think of you, I wonder—how do you manage being a mother, a pastor’s wife, and a pastor all at once?" I could tell she was feeling overwhelmed just thinking about my life! And she’s not the only one. Many of you have told me, "I get tired just looking at your schedule!" I’m so sorry for making you feel exhausted on my behalf!

When Norma asked me that, I paused for a moment to think about how to answer. On one hand, I have to admit that I do feel overwhelmed by new school systems for three different age groups, learning multiple apps just to read school announcements, and navigating new bus routes—I'm still trying to figure out where and when the buses stop! Every morning and afternoon, I send three groups of kids off at 30-minute intervals, welcome them back at 30-minute intervals, and drive five kids to all their different sports practices. Plus, I just sent today's bulletin draft to Corey two minutes before my meeting! I will be better next week. I am still getting to know our church and our community. In that sense, yes—I am definitely in an overwhelming season. However, I can’t say that I feel overwhelmed in other way.

If you are feeling overwhelmed today, what is your situation? Perhaps aging feels very new and heavy to you. Maybe a health issue—yours or a family member’s—feels like too much to bear. Maybe starting a new school year with mountains of homework feels daunting, or maybe the news from our country and world leaves your heart heavy.

Today, we find two of the most overwhelming situations in the entire Bible—one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. In them, we find the answer to what we should do when life overwhelms us.

Moses’ Visible Hands for an Invisible God

We have been journeying through Exodus for a few weeks according our lectionary, and today we reach the climax: crossing the Red Sea! It’s an exciting story that many of us have read dozens of times. About 2 million Israelites—including children, elderly family members, and livestock—were escaping Egypt. But suddenly, the Egyptian army trapped them against the shores of the Red Sea. Imagine how terrified they felt! How utterly overwhelmed they were!

 

Then, a miracle happened. The Red Sea parted into two massive walls of water, leaving dry ground for the Israelites to walk across. As I re-read this famous story, my eyes focused on the relationship between Moses’ hands and God’s hands:

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind..." (Exodus 14:21)

"Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians..." Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place... and the Lord swept them into the sea. (vv. 26–27)

"That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians... And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant." (vv. 30–31)

Who was the Primary Actor here? The Scripture leaves no doubt: The Lord drove the sea back. The Lord swept them away. The mighty hand of the Lord was displayed. Yet, before God performed the miracle, He told Moses: "Stretch out your hand." To an outsider who didn't know God, it might have looked like Moses was the one working the miracle!

Why would Almighty God ask Moses to stretch out his hand when God was doing all the heavy lifting? Because God doesn't need our power—He desires our partnership. He could do it all alone, but He invites Moses into the miracle. Through that visible act, the people learned to trust both the invisible God and His servant Moses. Our God—the Almighty Creator and our dear Friend—works this way: The invisible God does the ultimate work, but He asks for our visible hands.

A Child’s Visible Hands for an Invisible God

In the New Testament, we see the exact same pattern in the feeding of the five thousand. This is one of only two miracles recorded in all four Gospels (the other being Jesus’ Resurrection), which shows us just how important it is. Jesus had just received the heartbreaking news that John the Baptist was killed. His disciples were exhausted, having not even had time to eat. They desperately needed rest. But a massive crowd followed them, hungry for truth and hope. Jesus, filled with compassion, did not send them away. After teaching them all day, He wanted to feed them. He said to the disciples: "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

Philip looked at the crowd, calculated the cost, and felt completely overwhelmed: "It would take more than half a year’s wages!" They had no money, no energy, and no food. Then Andrew brought forward a young boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. Jesus didn't dismiss this tiny offering. He took the humble gift, gave thanks, broke the bread, and handed it to the disciples to distribute. There were 5,000 men, plus women and children—likely 15,000 to 20,000 people in total! And what happened? Everyone ate until they were full, and they collected twelve baskets of leftovers! It was the largest open-air communion meal in history. Just like at the Red Sea, Jesus didn't need the boy's lunch to perform a miracle. But He invited the boy to stretch out his hands. Our God—the Almighty Creator and our dear Friend—works this way: The invisible God does the ultimate work, but He asks for our visible hands.

 

Our Visible Hands for an Invisible God

Are you feeling overwhelmed today—trapped like Israel at the Red Sea, or asked to feed a crowd with empty pockets like the disciples? How do we break free from that burden? We must proclaim that God is the Primary Actor. He initiates, accomplishes, and finishes all things.

This is His business, not ours! We simply need to stretch out our hands when God gives us the cue, offering our "five loaves and two fish"—whatever small things we have received from Him. God will take care of the rest. We cannot ruin His sovereign plans!

"Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” Isa 26:12  

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

                                       

Our dear friend Samantha showed us what it means to be "visible hands for an invisible God" in her testimony today. (Unbroken faith by Samantha Hayman) After her terrible car accident, she was left with two broken wrists, two pelvic fractures, and a collapsed lung, facing 8 to 10 weeks of recovery to just walk. Yet, right after the collision, she opened her mouth to speak God’s words to the driver who hit her: "I forgive you. "As Samantha confessed, those were not her own natural words, but God’s words speaking through her. Even while unable to move her body properly, she and her boyfriend Trey offered their hands to the invisible God. Trey pushes her wheelchair door-to-door so they can visit neighbors in the hospital, hold hands, share smiles, offer prayers, and share the gospel. Samantha could easily feel overwhelmed by her long healing process. But when she offers her hands—even broken hands—we see the invisible God at work!

Returning to my own story about feeling overwhelmed: cooking for a household of seven is a big task! But I have a wonderful cooking buddy—my daughter, Hannah Banana. She loves to cook with me, and I love cooking with her. Recently, Hannah helped me make Kimchi—a complex, traditional Korean dish. When we served it to others, Hannah whispered proudly to them, "I made it!"(with Mom!- (with whispering voice). I laughed so hard! It’s like the boy with the five loaves telling his friends, "I fed 5,000 people with Jesus today!"

Hannah didn't do the heavy lifting, and even when I have to clean up her little mess or fix her extra ingredients, her presence is a joy. I don't need her to be the master chef; I just want her fellowship.

When Norma asked me, "Are you overwhelmed?" I could answer, "I’m not overwhelmed—I've just been in training through overwhelming situations for years!" The ministry of this church is not my business—it is God's business. Raising children is not my business- it is God’s business. I just follow His instructions. When God says, "Stretch out your hands," I stretch them out. When He asks for my five loaves and two fish, I place them in His hands.

What hands are you being called to stretch out to God today? When we offer our small, willing hands, God lifts the overwhelming weight off our shoulders. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Starting in October, we will have a wonderful opportunity to "cook with God" together through our new Bible studies—on Thursday mornings in person, on Zoom, and during our Adult Sunday School class before worship, if we can. I am also looking for visible hands to serve in key ministries:

• A Prayer Team to pray over our church and community.
• A Visitation Team to reach out through cards, texts, and home visits.
• A Mission Team to serve local needs. I recently joined the Nauset Interfaith Association (NIA), formed 25 years ago after 9/11, where local clergy and lay leaders work together to support Cape Cod.

May God use our visible hands to part our Red Seas, to feed our hungry neighbors, and to reveal the invisible God to our world. Let us close with the famous words of

St. Teresa of Ávila:

Christ has no body now but yours,

no hands, no feet on earth but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which He looks compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good.

Yours are the hands through which He blesses all the world. Amen.