This is where the disciples found themselves when Jesus told them He didn't want to send the thousands of people away hungry "lest they faint on the way." Matthew 15:32
The disciples heard Jesus' compassion for these people, but what were they supposed to do about it!
They even justify their inability to meet these people's needs. They say, "Where would we get so many loaves in a desolate place to satisfy such a great multitude?"
Jesus, are you crazy? Don't you notice where you've brought us? Don't you recognize the emptiness, the lack of resources, the lack of hope in this kind of place?! Jesus, you are asking us to do the impossible!
Jesus answers their question with a question. He asks them, "How many loaves do you have?"
When they answer He doesn't tell them what He's going to do. He doesn't even tell them it will be okay. He doesn't say, Hey watch this, I'm going to perform miracle.
Instead He tells the thousands of people to sit on the ground.
His disciples must have been livid or confused or frightened. What was going to happen when all these hungry people realized they weren't going to be fed? Would they get violent?
Jesus is a cool cat. After He tells them to sit down he blessed the seven loaves and the fish (they had a few small fish too). Then He broke them and gave the pieces to the disciples and told them to feed the crowd.
If I had been there I would have been so nervous. What would I do when my pieces ran out?
Do you think the disciples were stingy with the food? I would have been tempted to be even though God is never stingy and we all are called to generous living.
The scripture says, "And they all ate, and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, seven large baskets full."
Wow, wow, wow.....
Jesus will do this with us too. He will show us a need. He will ask what we have and then tell us to go give it even though we know it won't be enough.
But with God, it will be more than enough. Somehow God can take our broken pieces and create masterpieces.
Author Jennifer Kennedy Dean writes, "Jesus told His disciples that their way up would be down. That the one who followed Him would follow His way."
What is His way?
Death leads to life.
Inadequacy leads to abundance.
Lack leads to an overflowing unending love.
If that is where you're at, know that something's getting ready to happen. God is at work.