〰️Start with what you have〰️
〰️Jesus never asks, “What do you wish you had?”
He always asks, “What do you have?” And wow… that’ll mess with you if you let it.
〰️God doesn’t ask for what we don’t have. He asks for a small portion of what we do have and our whole hearts. Not when we’re caught up on bills. Not when life feels easier. Just… now..
〰️I catch myself saying things like,
“I’ll start giving when I make more.”
“I’ll start when I’m not behind.”
“I’ll start when I can breathe.”
〰️But, without God, I wouldn’t even have what I’m stressing over in the first place♥️
〰️In Matthew 14, Jesus is grieving. He just lost John the Baptist. He needed space. And still people followed Him. And instead of turning them away when no one would have blamed him, He had compassion on them.
〰️Then comes the part that no matter how many times I read it, gets me every time. 5 loaves 🥖. 2 fish 🐟. That’s it.
〰️Not enough by any logical standard.
Not enough by anyone’s standards actually.
〰️And yet Jesus didn’t say, “Come back when you have more.” He said, “BRING IT HERE.”
〰️Sometimes all we have is barely enough.
Barely enough money.
Barely enough faith.
Barely enough patience.
And that’s okay ♥️
But God isn’t asking for abundance y’all he’s asking for obedience and gratitude.
〰️I stress about bills… and not ONE time have I truly budgeted God’s share first... And that hurts to admit. Because it shows me where my trust slips. I’m not proud of it but I’m learning.
〰️Because when I really think about it, faith isn’t about having more. It’s about trusting God with what’s already in my hands.♥️
〰️So maybe the question isn’t “How do I afford to give?”
Maybe it’s “Do I trust God enough to?”
〰️Reflection (if you’re sitting with this too):
• What am I waiting to have more of before I obey?
• What are my “five loaves and two fish” right now?
• What would it look like to put God first instead of fitting Him in later?
〰️We are not behind. We are learning.
And God has always done His best work with “what little we bring.” ♥️
〰️Prayer,
God, I’m bringing You what I have. Even when it doesn’t feel like much…I confess that I worry about having enough and sometimes hold on too tightly. You have never failed me and you have always provided. Help me trust You with what’s in my hands right now. Teach me to give with gratitude instead of fear. Take my small offering and use it the way only You can. I want to trust You more than I trust my circumstances. Amen.
#mathew14 #5loaves2fish #faithfulprayers #trusthim #thankful
Reflecting on the story of the five loaves and two fish from Matthew 14, I've come to deeply appreciate the significance of offering what little we have to God, even when it feels insufficient. In life, many of us often wait for the perfect moment—or more resources—to start giving or serving, but this story reminds us that what matters most is our willingness to bring our small portion with a grateful heart. Through personal experience, I've seen how this principle applies beyond biblical text. When I was facing financial struggles, I initially hesitated to donate or help others, thinking I had nothing to offer. But when I trusted God with what I did have, my mindset shifted from scarcity to abundance. I realized that God multiplies our offerings, no matter how small, and uses obedience and faithfulness to work miracles. Moreover, budgeting “God’s share” first, as mentioned in the article, can be challenging but transformative. It requires surrendering control and showing trust that God will provide. This act nurtures not only financial stewardship but also strengthens spiritual trust and humility. In moments of impatience or doubt, remembering Jesus' command, “Bring them here to me,” encourages us to stop delaying and give whatever we have now. Whether it's time, resources, faith, or patience—offering these with a willing heart invites God to do His best work through us. Ultimately, this story is a call to embrace faith over fear and gratitude over scarcity. It reassures us that God's power is not limited by our resources but enhanced by our trust and obedience. So, instead of waiting for abundance, we grow by starting where we are, with what we have, handing it over to God who turns the little into much.