Matthew 14:15-20 ESV

"Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children."

In the above story, a huge crowd was following Jesus and ended up in a very remote, desolate place. They had no quick access to a fast-food restaurant, and by the sounds of it, even villages were a bit of a journey away. The disciples wanted to send the people away so that they could buy their own food, but Jesus, recognizing their immediate need for sustenance, tells them to give the crowd something to eat.

All that they could muster up were five loaves of bread and two measly fish. This was obviously not enough to feed a crowd of that size, but Jesus is excellent at taking very little and multiplying it. I can imagine the disciples were perhaps even a little embarrassed to give Jesus so little; after all, it logically was not enough. But Jesus simply says "bring them here to me" and then He does what He does best.

He multiplied.

Jesus can mold and shape what little you have into something grand and glorious. The remnants of shattered dreams and a broken heart can be restored and transformed into a beautiful creation. The only requirement is that you bring it to Him. Take those few timid steps in His direction today, you have no reason to fear or to be ashamed.

Place your life into His capable hands, and watch as He immediately sets to work, creating an exquisite masterpiece.

Devotion by Caitlin Walker