By Lysandra Osterkamp
John 6:9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are they among so many?”
The day had come. I had dreaded this day for months. I had fasted, I had prayed. Yet I was still scared. Here I was a very young pastor’s wife expected to get up in front of nearly one hundred women and deliver a message. I knew I was out of my league. Why would anyone want to hear anything I had to say? I had less experience than most of the women in the crowd I was speaking to. This was going to be a disaster!
Hours before go-time, I was getting ready at my house; praying as I curled my hair. I was praying as I put on my makeup. Finally, I stopped everything and I broke down, tears streamed down my cheeks. I just told my Jesus, “I can’t do this, I don’t have anything to give you. I’m not worthy, I don’t have enough!”
Through my tears and my loud sobs, I heard that still small voice. It was as if God spoke directly to my heart, “Lysandra, I know you have very little to give, but that’s all I want. Bring me what you have,” I wiped my face, took a deep breath, and re-applied my makeup that was now, totally destroyed! I said, “Okay God, I’ll give you what I have, and trust you for the outcome.” Peace came over me. Not confidence in my abilities, but confidence in what He could do with the little I had to offer Him.
Bring Him whatever you have and watch Him do miraculous things with it!
It reminds me of the little boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. There were so many people listening to Jesus that day that Philip said even the equivalent of eight months wages would only give everyone a few bites. The crowds would still be hungry.
Then Peter finds the little boy who brought a lunch that day. He had enough food for one small child. Peter asks a valid question, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are they among so many?” There were five thousand men not including women and children. One tiny lunch for one small child would not be enough. And that’s the point, it wasn’t enough.
You and I face challenges all throughout our lives that show us, we don’t have enough. We don’t have enough strength to face our health crisis. We don’t have enough money to pay the bills. We don’t have enough fortitude to face our depression or anxiety. We don’t have enough grace to deal with that person who grates on our nerves. We don’t have enough ability to accomplish the task in front of us.
When you don’t have enough, bring Him what you have. Give Jesus your ability, however small. Bring Him your strength, such as it is. Bring Him your intellect, no matter how insufficient. Bring Him your offering, even if it’s miniscule.
Bring Him whatever you have and watch Him do miraculous things with it!
Jesus took a tiny lunch and fed thousands of people with baskets of food leftover! Jesus helped me speak to all those ladies who were older and wiser than me and used it for His glory! If we bring Him what we have, no matter how small, He will use it in ways we never dreamed possible.