Sabbath Devotional :: Loaves and Fishes

Last Sunday my nine-year-old daughter gave a talk in sacrament meeting as part of our ward’s Primary program. She prepared her own talk and bravely stood at the pulpit in front of the congregation to share some of the things that she has learned from the scriptures this year.

During her talk she shared that one of her favorite stories from the New Testament is when Jesus fed a multitude of five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fishes (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:13-17; John 6:9-13). After commenting on what an amazing miracle this was, she said: “How this applies to my life is that whatever small thing I have to offer, if I give that to Jesus then he makes that enough and turns it into more.”

The truth is, I often feel like I don’t have enough to offer. When I look at the world and see the vast multitudes of people who are suffering, it seems like I can’t possibly offer anything that will make a difference. I see multitudes who have been forced to flee from their homes. I see multitudes who are struggling to survive. I see multitudes who have been treated unfairly. I see multitudes who are experiencing physical and emotional anguish. I see multitudes who are confused by misinformation and disinformation. I see multitudes who are hardened by hate. Even if I offer all that I have, how can it ever be enough?

And then I sometimes make the mistake of comparing the loaves and fishes in my basket to what I see in the baskets of others. I see amazing people doing amazing things – things that make a difference for the multitudes. I am grateful for their offerings. I am inspired by their offerings. But then I look at my own basket and my few loaves and fishes can suddenly appear to be nothing more than crumbs.

Even when I am doing the best I can, even when I desire to give all that I have, it often feels like it just isn’t enough. It can easily seem like I don’t have enough talent, enough time, enough experience, enough knowledge, enough patience. . . . The list is never-ending.

That is why I needed this important reminder from my daughter: “Whatever small thing I have to offer, if I give that to Jesus then he makes that enough and turns it into more.”

God can take our imperfect offerings — even our smallest and most simple efforts — and make them enough. He can turn them into more. He can work miracles with them.

We may be blessed to witness some of those miracles. But it is more likely that we won’t even be aware of the far-reaching effects of our offerings. There will be miracles that we don’t see — miracles that result from our efforts combined with God’s power. We may never know how God used our loaves and fishes. But we can be certain that every righteous offering we make is acceptable to him.

Jesus didn’t condemn the offering of a few loaves and fishes because it wasn’t enough. And he won’t condemn our offering, either. He doesn’t compare what is in our basket with what is in another’s basket. We shouldn’t be comparing, either. We do the best we can, day by day, minute by minute. We offer what we have, knowing that it will never be enough on its own, and knowing that it will always be enough because of him. His grace is sufficient (Ether 12:27; 2 Corinthians 12:9). His grace will always be enough.

Perhaps the most significant offering that the Savior asks us to make is to “offer for a sacrifice unto [him] a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:20). That is an offering I am continually striving to make. I repeatedly slip and stumble and battle with my “natural man” tendencies. But when I stay focused on this essential offering — one of the only things that is truly mine to give — I find that I am more focused on my Savior, and that, as the new Young Women theme beautifully states: “I cherish the gift of repentance and seek to improve each day.” Rather than seeing repentance as a negative consequence of being “bad” or not being “good enough,” I see that repentance is indeed a priceless gift to cherish – a gift that is overflowing with grace. I continue to offer my heart, I continue seeking to improve, and his grace continues to be ever-present. It is always enough.

Sometimes we will fail. Sometimes our shortcomings will hurt others. Sometimes the failures and missteps of others will hurt us. But the offering that the Savior made – the offering of himself as an “infinite and eternal sacrifice” (Alma 34:10) — that offering is enough to cover it all. That offering is enough for us to find mercy and forgiveness when we have sinned. It is enough for us to find relief and restoration when we have been wounded. If we will accept his offering with a broken heart and contrite spirit, it will always be enough.

In the conclusion of her talk, my daughter stated: “What really stands out to me from studying the New Testament is that Jesus cares about everyone. He cares about you, me, and everyone in the world.” There is powerful truth in that simple statement from a nine-year-old girl. Jesus Christ does care about everyone. He cares about you. He cares about me. He cares about the multitudes. He cares about each individual. He sees our needs. He knows our hearts. He accepts our offerings. He makes it enough.