A Happy Meal

Little Is Much When the Lord Is in It

What can Jesus do with something that seems too small to matter? In the feeding of the five thousand, a little boy offered five barley loaves and two small fish, and Jesus turned his little lunch into more than enough. If you’ve ever felt that your abilities, resources, influence, or faith were too small to make a difference, this story is a beautiful reminder: little is much when the Lord is in it.

Scripture Focus: John 6:9, John 6:11, Zechariah 4:10, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Matthew 14:20

Never underestimate something small in the hands of a big God.

Five loaves. Two little fish. One willing boy. Thousands of hungry people.

It didn’t look like much.

But Jesus was there. And that changed everything.

“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”  John 6:9 (KJV)

What Difference Could This Possibly Make?

I can’t help but smile when I think about the little boy in John 6.

We don’t know much about him. We don’t know his name. We don’t know exactly why he was there that day or how his lunch came to the disciples’ attention.

But we know what he had.

Five barley loaves and two small fishes.

Basically, the biblical version of a Happy Meal.

It was enough for a boy.

Not nearly enough for the multitude.

Andrew certainly noticed the problem. After mentioning the boy and his lunch, he asked:

“…but what are they among so many?”  John 6:9 (KJV)

That’s a reasonable question.

There were thousands of hungry people and only a handful of food. From a human perspective, the math didn’t work.

But Andrew’s question left one very important Person out of the equation.

Jesus.

And sometimes we do the same thing.

We look at what we have.

We look at what is needed.

We compare the two and conclude, There’s no way my little could possibly make a difference.

But what if we’re asking the wrong question?

Instead of asking, “Is what I have enough?”

Maybe we should be asking, “Have I placed what I have in the hands of Jesus?”

The Miracle Began With Surrender

There was nothing miraculous about five barley loaves and two fish.

They were ordinary. Small and insufficient for the need.

But then Jesus took them.

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples…”  John 6:11 (KJV)

Don’t miss those words:

Jesus took the loaves.

What had been in the boy’s possession was now in the hands of Jesus.

That’s where everything changed.

The boy couldn’t multiply the bread.
Andrew couldn’t multiply it.
The disciples couldn’t multiply it.

But Jesus could.

Sometimes we become discouraged because we are trying to figure out how we can make our little become enough.

Maybe God never asked us to.

Our responsibility is surrender.

His responsibility is the outcome.

Bring Him your time.
Bring Him your talents.
Bring Him your testimony.
Bring Him your resources.
Bring Him your opportunities.
Bring Him your willingness.

You don’t have to know how He will use them.

Just put them in His hands.

Don’t Despise the Small Things

Here is a funny little illustration that makes this point surprisingly well.

Think about a mosquito. It’s tiny. It doesn’t look threatening.

But put one mosquito in your bedroom at 2:00 in the morning and suddenly that tiny creature has your complete attention!

Something doesn’t have to be big to make an impact.

Scripture asks:

“For who hath despised the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10 (KJV)

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly demonstrates that He isn’t intimidated by small beginnings.

A shepherd boy stood before a giant.
A widow’s two mites caught the attention of Jesus.
A mustard seed illustrated faith.

And one little boy’s lunch fed a multitude.

Yet we can be quick to dismiss the small things in our own lives.

My testimony isn’t dramatic enough.

My ministry isn’t big enough.

I don’t have enough influence.

I don’t have enough money.

I’m not talented enough.

Someone else could do it better.

But maybe we’ve been measuring the wrong thing.

God isn’t asking how impressive your offering is.

He’s asking whether you’re willing to give it to Him.

Imagine What an On-Fire Christian Can Do

Now, back to that mosquito for a moment.

If something that tiny can cause that much disruption, imagine the difference one Christian who is truly surrendered and on fire for God can make!

Not because we possess some extraordinary power of our own.

We don’t.

Our effectiveness comes from God working through us.

Paul understood this:

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” 1 Corinthians 2:4 (KJV)

The enemy would love to convince you that you’re insignificant.

That your prayers don’t matter.

That your testimony won’t make a difference.

That your little act of obedience isn’t important.

That nobody notices your faithfulness.

That someone else is better equipped.

But God’s work has never depended upon our greatness.

It depends upon His power.

You don’t have to reach thousands to make a difference.

Encourage one person.
Pray for one hurting friend.
Share Jesus with one neighbor.
Teach one child Scripture.
Help one person in need.
Stand for truth in one difficult situation.
Shine His light in one dark place.

One surrendered Christian can make an eternal difference in another person’s life.

Don’t worry about being impressive.

Be available.

The Beauty of the Leftovers

Perhaps one of my favorite parts of this miracle is what happened after everyone ate.

“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.”  Matthew 14:20 (KJV)

Everyone ate.

Everyone was filled.

And there were leftovers.

Twelve baskets of leftovers!

Can you imagine that little boy looking at those baskets?

He started with five loaves and two fish.

He ended the day having witnessed something only Jesus could do.

What he had wasn’t enough.

But Jesus was.

And maybe that’s the truth someone needs today.

You don’t have to be enough.

Your resources don’t have to be enough.
Your abilities don’t have to be enough.
Your influence doesn’t have to be enough.

Your little becomes an opportunity for God to demonstrate His sufficiency when you place it in His hands.

What Is Your “Happy Meal”?

Maybe you’re reading this thinking, But I really don’t have much to offer.

Perhaps that’s exactly where God wants to meet you.

What is your five loaves and two fishes?

Maybe it’s thirty minutes you could give someone.
Maybe it’s a talent you’ve never thought was important.
Maybe it’s a small financial gift.
Maybe it’s your testimony.
Maybe it’s opening your home.
Maybe it’s sending an encouraging message.
Maybe it’s teaching a Sunday School class.
Maybe it’s praying faithfully for someone who has wandered away from God.
Maybe it’s simply saying, “Lord, I’m available.”

Don’t underestimate the little thing God has placed in your hands.

You don’t know what He intends to do with it.

And you don’t have to.

Just give it to Jesus.

Pause & Ponder

Consider these questions this week:

• What has God placed in my hands that I have considered too small or insignificant to matter?
• Have I been comparing what I have with what someone else has?
• Is there an ability, opportunity, resource, or testimony that I need to surrender to God?
• Where is God giving me an opportunity to make a difference for just one person?
• Am I willing to obey God even when I cannot see how my small act of obedience could possibly matter?

Live Anchored: A Challenge for the Week

This week, intentionally look for the small opportunities.

Don’t wait for something big.

Send the text.

Make the phone call.

Pray the prayer.

Give the gift.

Share your testimony.

Encourage the person.

Serve where there’s a need.

Take the step of obedience God has placed before you.

Then leave the results in His hands.

You may never know this side of eternity what God does with one seemingly small act of obedience.

Anchor Truth: A Biblical Truth

God can accomplish far more through what we surrender to Him than we could ever accomplish by holding onto it ourselves.

The miracle wasn’t about how much the boy possessed.

It was about Who received it.

Today’s Anchor: A Practical Application

Identify your “five loaves and two fishes” today.

Write down one thing you have been tempted to dismiss because it seems too small—your time, talent, resources, influence, testimony, or opportunity.

Then pray:

Lord, this may not seem like much to me, but I place it in Your hands. Use what I have for Your purposes and Your glory. Help me be faithful with my little and trust You with the results. Amen.

Then watch for an opportunity to use it.

Anchor Point

Little is much when the Lord is in it.

You don’t have to bring Jesus enough.

Just bring Him what you have.

Maybe your “Happy Meal” doesn’t look like much.

Neither did five barley loaves and two little fish.

But once they were placed in the hands of Jesus, thousands were fed—and there were twelve baskets left over.

So don’t despise your little.

Don’t underestimate your influence.

Don’t wait until you have more.

And don’t believe the lie that you are too insignificant to make a difference.

If a tiny mosquito can make its presence known, imagine what God can do through one surrendered Christian who is on fire for Him.

Give Him your little.

Give Him your willingness.

Give Him your obedience

And trust Him with what happens next.

Until next time, stay…
Anchored in Him. Shining His Light. 🧡
– Thee Anchor & Light