In the well-known story of Jesus feeding 5,000 men, plus countless women and children, He performed a miracle with only five small barley loaves and two fish (probably a little boy’s lunch). That’s amazing enough. Yet, in John 6:11, Jesus does something extraordinary. He takes the boy’s lunch and thanks God for what anyone else would see as insufficient (“not enough”). But Jesus gives the Father gratitude for the “not enough” without waiting for the miracle to occur. God honored this act of faith by providing abundantly more than expected, leaving 12 baskets of leftovers after everyone had eaten their fill.
Imagine if we applied this mindset to our own lives. What if we thanked God for the “not enough” in our lives—not for what we hope to receive, but for what we already have? What if we thanked God that we still make mistakes and may sometimes feel insecure and “not enough.” What if thanked God that we may not have achieved it all or have it all, but we just thank Him for where we are and what we have right now. What if our bodies and our minds can feel out of control, yet we thank God that we still have a body and a mind, just embracing where we are and thanking God for the current “not enough in body and mind.” God knows and sees it all—and wants His best for us!
We can make it habit to thank God for what we have, even if it feels insufficient. We can acknowledge our present state, being mindful and appreciative knowing that God is with us. We can instead of focusing on what we lack, find peace in what is already present. We can say daily, “Lord, I thank you for my ‘right now.’”
Before modern plumbing, people used pumps to draw water from the ground. To get the pump started, you often had to “prime” it by pouring a little water in—using what you had, even if it seemed like “not enough,” trusting that fresh water would follow. What if we lived our lives “priming” life; that is, making the most of the “not enough” having no doubt that God will provide in His own time. What if?
Jesus didn’t recite a lengthy prayer for provision; He simply trusted that God would provide. Paul told the Philippian believers, “But my God shall supply all your need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Consider thanking God for your current state, even if it’s not perfect. Trust God and just praise His holy name right now!
God bless you!
Pastor Janice Fareed-Hardy
