Have you ever told the Lord that you can’t do something? I have, and I was completely convinced that it was useless to even try. Until the Lord showed me that even small things become great in His hands.
Large crowds often followed the Lord. And this day, after crossing the Sea of Galilee, was no different. He had ventured off to rest in a quiet place, alone with His disciples.
But even there the crowds followed Him. And when he saw them, he had compassion on them because he saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd. (Mark 6, John 6.)
So despite his fatigue and grief over the death of John the Baptist, he sat down and taught them. Until, seeing how late it was, the disciples suggested that they send the people away to buy food.
Little becomes much
“No, you give them something to eat!” Jesus said, ignoring their objection that they had neither enough food, nor enough money to buy so much.
Instead, he taught them to take what little they had and give it to God. “But we have only five small loaves and two small fishes. What are they among so many people?”
Yet, from this small amount of food, they all had as much as they wanted! 5000 men, plus women and children. And afterward they even collected 12 baskets of leftovers! Because even a little – when placed in God’s hands – becomes a lot.
God gives much, but we have to use it.
Christ didn’t have to use their food. He could have made something out of nothing. But He chose to work with what the Father had already provided.
Many times in the Bible, God had people use what they already had. From Moses’ staff, to David’s sling, to the widow’s nearly empty jar of oil.
“What are you holding in your hands?” God asked Moses. “A rod,” he replied. And the Lord used that rod to prove that it was He who was sending Moses, so that even the high and powerful Pharaoh would listen. (Exodus 4.)
“What do you have in your house?” Elisha asked the widow, “Well, bring me your jar and borrow more from all your neighbors!” And God used the little oil she had to make a miraculous supply of oil that lasted until the terrible famine was over. (2 Kings 4)
God has given us much, but we often do not see it.
God has also placed much in our hands. Material blessings, talents and all the spiritual gifts we need to carry out His work.
Yet we often overlook what the Lord has already given us. We convince ourselves that we are lacking and incapable, and so we fail to move forward with obedient faith.
But even a tiny seed of faith exercised in obedience becomes powerful in God’s hands.
We forget that little becomes much in His hands.
Like the disciples with their little fish and loaves, we fail to see that even a little becomes much in God’s hands.
I learned this lesson years ago when I was first asked to speak to a group of women. Public speaking, even in front of large crowds, doesn’t scare me. But teaching God’s Word (especially in Italian) is another matter. It’s a great responsibility, and that scares me.
My gifts are not in public speaking, but in writing and mentoring, so I was convinced that I would fail. Most of all I was afraid of disappointing God.
But the Lord reminded me: “I have already given you much. You have a story to tell. My story in your life. Just tell what I’ve done and I’ll do the rest.
I’ve heard people say that their knees shake when speaking to crowds. Trembling knees? My whole body was shaking! And my mouth was so dry that I couldn’t even speak!
It’s God’s ability that counts
“You see, Lord, I knew I couldn’t do it!” I told Him. And He said, “You’re right and I already knew that. But didn’t I tell you that if you would let go of your fears and do your best, that I would do the rest?”
God doesn’t call us because of our skills and abilities; He knows they are inadequate. All He asks is that we do our part, and He promises that He’ll do the rest. For He is the God who does much with little.
So I opened my mouth to speak and He really did do the rest! It was extraordinary, because my message on overcoming fear touched their hearts. I know because many told me so, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
But I also knew that it was not through any merit of my own. Certainly not because I’m a powerful speaker, because I’m not.
“God has given us everything we need to do His work,” I told them. But first, we have to let go of our doubts and fears, and then use what He has already given us. Knowing that He will always do the rest, because He has promised.”
Many people in the Bible didn’t have much. A few fish, an ordinary stick, an almost empty jar. What they had was little. And it was never enough, until they gave it to God.
We may not have much either. Like Moses, we may be convinced that we can’t speak well. Or like Philip with a little fish and bread, we may think that our few talents won’t get us very far.
Whatever we have is not enough, and it never will be. But when we take that little bit and give it to God, it becomes more than enough – for He does great things.
Little becomes much when we give it to God. For He is the God who does the rest.
It is It is not my ability but my response to God’s ability that counts.
Corrie ten Boom
📷 Image credits: fish & bread by http://www.LumoProject.com; widow with jar by FreeBibleImages.org; grain in hands; woman
Signora Sheila 