Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.”
– Matthew 14:16-18 (NRSV)

This story from the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus feeds a crowd of five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish is a wonderful reminder for me as I get hung up in pockets of doubt throughout my faith journey. After hearing this story, how could I ever doubt Jesus will provide for me all that I need – even when I give Him very little to work with!?!

And yet, like His disciples in the story, I do doubt. I tell him the facts about what I don’t have, and He invites me to bring what I do have to Him:

• Here Jesus, I don’t have enough money to go get my Master’s Degree.
• Here Jesus, I don’t have enough time to work a program of recovery every day.
• Here Jesus, I don’t have enough courage to be honest in my relationships.
• Here Jesus, I don’t have enough self-confidence to write a book.
• Here Jesus, I don’t have any idea what You want me to do next!

After I have told Him all that I don’t have, He takes the little I do have and creates a buffet fit for five thousand!

• Here Jessica, are student loans and scholarship aid.
• Here Jessica, is the energy to attend your meetings and work with others in your recovery program, even when you feel over-extended.
• Here Jessica, are all the inner resources you need to be honest in your relationships with dignity and respect for yourself and others.
• Here Jessica, is the faith you need to keep writing and a friend who will read your work before you send it out for publishing.
• Here Jessica, is enough clarity to keep moving forward and trusting My path for you.

The next time I doubt, I must remember this Truth: No matter how little I offer to Jesus (even when I think it is not enough), He will transform it into all that I need (and more) to carry out His plan for me. He has and He will!