by Demi Prentiss
It’s been a tough week. As I look at my list of “to-do’s” and the time on my calendar, I’m reminded of the “loaves and fishes” story from a couple of Sundays ago. And I’m reminded of what Jil Fiemeyer, a graduate of Luther Seminary writing for the “God Pause” blog, had to say about “feeding the 5,000” from Matthew (14:13-21):
“The disciples look at five loaves and two fish and see too little. Jesus looks at the very same meal and sees where to begin. I look at my calendar, my energy, my abilities, and wonder if they’ll ever be enough. But Jesus has never asked us to begin with enough.”[1]
Fiemeyer reminds us to notice the 12 baskets of left-overs – “The baskets remind me that Jesus doesn’t simply provide enough. He reveals the abundant heart of God. His grace is never measured in barely enough, but in the quiet assurance that God will faithfully provide what we need.
“Looking back, I can see moments when I wondered how I would make it through. Yet somehow there was enough strength for that day, enough hope for the next step, enough mercy to begin again.”[2]
The miracles of God’s abundance show up in our lives again and again. And especially when our trust in God outweighs our fears. “Because Jesus doesn’t begin with what we lack. He begins with what we’ve placed in his hands.”[3]
Fiemeyer closes with this prayer: “Gracious Jesus, when I focus on what I don’t have, help me trust you with what I do. Teach me to place my ordinary gifts into your hands, believing that you are already at work in ways I cannot yet see. Amen.” [4]
[1] https://www.luthersem.edu/godpause/2026/07/30/37550/
[2] https://www.luthersem.edu/godpause/2026/07/31/37553/
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