When Little Feels Like Not Enough: Jesus’ Prayer Before Feeding the Multitudes

What Do You Do When It’s Clearly Not Enough?

Have you ever looked at your situation and thought, There’s no way this works out?

Not enough time.

Not enough money.

Not enough strength.

Just… not enough.

Jesus knows that moment.

He’s standing in front of thousands of hungry people—5,000 men, plus women and children. The disciples are nervous. The people are restless. The sun is setting. And what do they have?

“There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”

—John 6:9 (New Living Translation)

They weren’t wrong to ask the question. From a human standpoint, it was laughable. That’s like walking into a packed stadium with a lunchable and saying, “We’re good.”

Jesus Didn’t Panic—He Prayed

Here’s what’s remarkable: Jesus didn’t scold the disciples. He didn’t ask for more. He didn’t even stress. Instead, He took the bread and fish, looked up to heaven—and gave thanks.

“Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterwards he did the same with the fish.”

—John 6:11 (NLT)

Before the miracle came the prayer.

Before the abundance came the gratitude.

Jesus gave thanks for what wasn’t enough—and somehow, it became more than enough.

Why That Prayer Matters

Jesus wasn’t just blessing the food. He was modeling something we all need: faithful gratitude before the breakthrough.

It’s easy to thank God when the bills are paid and the pantry is full. But what about when the numbers don’t add up? What about when you only have five loaves and two fish, and the need is massive?

Jesus teaches us to start with thanks, even then.

It’s not denial—it’s dependence.

A Story From Our Own Five Loaves Season

A few years ago, Wendy and I walked through one of the hardest seasons of our marriage. Wendy felt called to leave her job in Texas and move back to Pennsylvania to care for her mom, who was declining in a nursing home. It was a decision full of love—and full of complications.

We lost her income. We were living in two states. And the math on our finances didn’t make sense.

There were weeks we’d have those uncomfortable conversations:

“Can you hold off on groceries until Friday?”

“Do you have enough gas to make it to payday?”

And yet… we always had enough.

Never extra. Never overflowing. But enough.

Looking back, I know why. We gave thanks, and we trusted God to multiply what we had.

What to Do When It Doesn’t Feel Like Enough

So what do you do when your five loaves and two fish don’t match the size of the problem?

You put them in Jesus’ hands.

You give thanks, even when your voice shakes.

You pray—not after the fact, not as a backup plan—but before.

Because the miracle didn’t begin when the people ate.

It began when Jesus gave thanks for what didn’t look like enough.

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