BY JESSICA LANDMON
I think we can agree that we all have been in a place of lack at one time or another. Whether it is lack of finances, lack of relationship, lack of peace, or even lack of joy, we have all walked through these seasons. But what’s interesting to me is that God never intended for His children to live in lack of anything, and yet many of us never know how to move out of this place. God is our sustainer and provider and freely gives to us what we need. In fact, He gives us more than what we need.
In John 6, we read the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand. There is so much teaching just in this one account in the Bible. What struck me most in my latest readthrough was not the miracle itself, not how He performed it, or even the response from the onlookers. What leaped off the pages to me was the fact that after feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, there was 12 baskets of leftovers. Why?
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. – John 6:12-13
Why were there 12 baskets of leftovers? Quite frankly, why was there anything left at all? The miracle of feeding that many people was impressive enough. Why was it necessary to have anything at all remain? There was no need for leftovers, unless, that is, the Lord was trying to tell us something. When we read through scripture and something sticks out like this, it is always important to examine the why because there is intentionality in everything that the God does.
So, as I prayed into this passage, I felt like God is sending us a very important message. Listen to me sweet friend, God does not just want to meet your needs. He wants to bless you above and beyond those needs. He doesn’t want you to live in lack any longer. He wants to give you more than you could ever ask or imagine. Jesus didn’t just feed the multitudes, but He sent the disciples home with doggy bags to remind them that He is the God of more than enough!
My mother has this great saying, “When you ask God for an apple, He will give you the whole orchard.” Isn’t that a beautiful depiction of God’s love for us? He doesn’t want us lacking any good thing. He doesn’t want His children begging for provisions. He wants to bless us with more than we ask for, but we need to position ourselves to receive. We need to expect God to move in our circumstances no matter what it looks like in the natural. Through faith, we must rely on the very nature of our God to step in and provide for us like the generous father that He is.
Ladies, I am not sure what you are standing in the gap for, but know one thing for sure, God will provide. He will show up. He is able and willing because He is the God of more than enough.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19