Remember Who You Are

As I was reading Philippians 3 this week, there were several verses that really stood out to me.

Paul starts this chapter by talking about all the things that used to define him. He talks about his background, his education, his culture, and his status. These were all things that gave him value and identity before he met Christ.

Then in verse 7 he says something remarkable:

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”

A few verses later, he goes even further and says that compared to knowing Christ, all of those things are garbage.

That is such a powerful statement.

Paul understood something that we often forget. The things of this world are temporary. Our possessions, our accomplishments, our titles, our status, and even our struggles are all temporary. The only thing that truly lasts is our relationship with Christ.

Sometimes we place so much emphasis on our identity in this world. We identify ourselves as a mom, an executive, a teacher, a coach, a leader, or by whatever role we happen to fill. None of those things are wrong, but they were never meant to be our primary identity.

Paul reminds us that what matters most is knowing Christ.

When everything else is stripped away, that is the one thing that remains.

The second section of Philippians 3 contains one of my favorite passages in Scripture.

Paul is very honest about the fact that he has not arrived. He knows he is not perfect. He knows there is still work for God to do in his life.

Yet instead of becoming discouraged, he says:

“But I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”

I love that.

Paul is not saying his past never happened. He is not pretending he never made mistakes. He is simply refusing to allow his past to determine his future.

He keeps moving forward.

He keeps pressing on.

He keeps pursuing the purpose God has for his life.

That is such an important reminder for all of us.

There are so many people who spend their lives looking backward. They are trapped by guilt, shame, regret, or old mistakes. Paul shows us a different way. He says to get up, keep going, and keep your eyes fixed on what God is calling you toward.

We may not be perfect, but we can continue moving forward.

As Paul wraps up this chapter, he returns to a theme that has shown up throughout the entire book of Philippians. He challenges believers to live lives that reflect Christ.

In fact, he tells them to follow his example.

That is a pretty bold statement.

Imagine being able to tell someone, “If you want to know what it looks like to follow Jesus, watch how I live.”

That should be our goal as believers.

We should not have one version of ourselves for church and another version for the rest of the week. We should not have hidden areas of our lives that we hope nobody sees. Instead, our lives should consistently reflect the One we claim to follow.

Paul also warns the church about people whose lives show that they are enemies of the cross. He says they are focused entirely on earthly things. Their appetites drive them. Their attention is fixed on this world and what it can offer.

As I was reading that section, I was reminded of something I wrote about recently.

People are not looking for an echo of the culture.

The world does not need more Christians who blend in with everyone else. The world needs believers whose lives point people toward something greater.

Then Paul closes the chapter with one of the most encouraging verses in the entire book:

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.”

That statement would have meant a lot to the Philippians.

They lived under Roman authority and took great pride in their citizenship, their culture, and their history. Paul was not telling them those things were unimportant. He was reminding them that there was something even more important.

Before they were citizens of Rome, they were citizens of heaven.

The same is true for us.

Before we are Americans, Republicans, Democrats, Baptists, Methodists, executives, teachers, coaches, or anything else, we are children of God.

Our primary identity is found in Christ.

That is really the message Paul is driving home throughout this chapter.

As believers, there should be something different about the way we live and carry ourselves. We belong to a different kingdom. We have a different hope. We are living for something greater than what this world has to offer.

So let us remember what Paul remembered.

Let us hold the things of this world loosely.

Let us forget what is behind and press forward toward what God has ahead.

And above all else, let us remember who we are.

We are citizens of heaven.

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A Life Worthy of the Gospel

One verse from this week’s study in Philippians really stood out to me:

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27, NIV)

Paul wrote those words from prison.

He wasn’t writing from a place of comfort or convenience. He wasn’t writing during a season when everything was going according to plan. Yet his focus wasn’t on his circumstances. His focus was on how believers should live regardless of their circumstances.

As we worked through Philippians chapters 1 and 2, one theme kept appearing over and over again: personal responsibility.

Paul reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are representatives of the gospel. We are ambassadors for Jesus. The way we speak, the way we treat people, the attitudes we carry, and the words we choose all communicate something about the Savior we claim to follow.

In Philippians 2:5, Paul writes:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

He goes on to describe Christ’s humility, His willingness to serve, and His obedience to the Father. Then later in the chapter, Paul gives a very practical instruction:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” (Philippians 2:14-15, NIV)

Those verses feel especially relevant today.

We live in a culture where criticism is common, complaints are constant, and everyone seems to have an opinion about everything. It’s easy to get swept into that mindset. It’s easy to join the conversation, add our two cents, and echo the negativity around us.

But Paul calls believers to something different.

Recently, I heard pastor and author Carey Nieuwhof say, “The culture needs an alternative to itself, not an echo of itself.” That statement immediately reminded me of Philippians.

That statement immediately reminded me of Philippians.

The world already has plenty of criticism. Plenty of anger. Plenty of complaining.

What people are looking for is something different. They are looking for hope. They are looking for grace. They are looking for kindness. They are looking for people who respond differently because Christ has changed them.

As believers, we have an opportunity every day to show the world what Jesus is like.

We can reflect His humility.

We can reflect His patience.

We can reflect His kindness.

Or we can simply blend in with everyone else.

Lately, I’ve been trying to put this into practice in my own life. Sometimes I’ll see someone doing something differently than I would do it. Maybe it’s a ministry, an organization, or a person making a decision I wouldn’t make. My first thought might be to critique it.

But then I’m reminded: if God hasn’t called me to lead that ministry, run that organization, or make that decision, perhaps my role is not to criticize but to encourage, pray, and trust Him.

Not every opinion needs to be spoken.

Not every criticism needs to be shared.

Not every disagreement needs to become an argument.

Paul’s challenge to the Philippians is the same challenge for us today: live a life worthy of the gospel.

Whether things are going well or poorly.

Whether circumstances are easy or difficult.

Whether people agree with us or not.

May our words, attitudes, and actions point people to Christ.

And may we shine brightly in a world that desperately needs to see Him.

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Finding Contentment Close to Home

This week, I am starting a study through the book of Philippians, and something happened that made me stop and think about one of the book’s central themes: contentment.

I went for a three-mile walk along Lake Michigan. When I finished, I grabbed a blanket that I’ve decided to start keeping in my car, spread it out on the beach, opened my book, and spent some time reading by the water. The sun was shining, the breeze was perfect, and the sound of the waves made it feel like I was miles away on vacation.

I even took a picture because, at a glance, it looked like I had traveled somewhere special.

The reality? I was less than fifteen minutes from my house.

As I sat there, I realized something. Last summer, I barely came to the beach at all. Not because I didn’t enjoy it. Not because it wasn’t beautiful. Life was simply busy, and I overlooked something that was available to me all along.

People drive hours to visit this beach. Some save money and plan vacations around places like this. Yet there have been seasons when I didn’t take advantage of something sitting practically in my own backyard.

It reminded me how easy it is to overlook the blessings right in front of us.

We often think joy is waiting somewhere else. We tell ourselves we’ll be happy when we get the next thing, reach the next goal, take the next trip, buy the next item, or finally arrive at whatever destination we’ve set for ourselves. But sometimes the beauty we’re searching for is much closer than we realize.

As I sat there reading, I couldn’t help but think about Philippians.

One of the most life-changing passages in that book for me is when Paul writes that he has learned the secret of being content in every circumstance. In a culture that constantly encourages us to consume more, buy more, achieve more, and chase more, those words feel incredibly countercultural.

Over the years, I’ve learned that contentment isn’t found in having everything I want. It’s found in recognizing everything I’ve already been given.

I’ve never been especially materialistic. Shopping has never been my favorite pastime, and accumulating more things has never brought me much satisfaction. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more aware of where true contentment comes from.

My contentment is found in Christ.

It’s found in knowing who He is, what He has done, and what He has already provided.

As we begin studying Philippians, we’ll encounter some of the most quoted verses in Scripture. Verses like, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

But I think it’s important that we understand what Paul is actually teaching. So often we define our needs through the lens of our culture. We begin to expect things that Scripture never promises because we’ve confused wants with needs.

The world tells us that contentment is found in getting more.

Scripture tells us that contentment is found in Christ.

That’s why passages like Romans 12 remind us not to be conformed to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. And that’s why I love what Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:3, that God “has given us everything required for life and godliness.”

Think about that.

Everything we need.

Why?

Because He has given us Himself. He has given us His Son. He has given us salvation, grace, mercy, purpose, hope, and the promise of eternity.

The more we understand that truth, the more we begin to recognize that contentment isn’t found in what we’re lacking. It’s found in appreciating what we’ve already received.

So over the next few weeks, I’ll be walking through the book of Philippians one chapter at a time. My hope isn’t to provide a deep theological commentary, but simply to share what God is teaching me as I study His Word.

And maybe it starts with a simple reminder from a beach fifteen minutes from home:

Sometimes the blessings we’ve been searching for are already right in front of us. We just need to slow down long enough to see them.

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Faithful in the Little Things

This morning I was reading Luke 16, the parable of the shrewd manager. The story begins with a manager who is about to lose his job because he has been wasting his master’s resources. Knowing his time is running out, he takes action and begins settling accounts.

As Jesus explains the lesson, He makes a powerful statement:

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Luke 16:10)

For years, this has been something God has continually brought back to my attention.

Many of us have big dreams. We feel God has placed desires in our hearts, ministries we want to build, people we want to impact, opportunities we hope will come. But often, while we’re waiting, we spend more time complaining about what we don’t have than being faithful with what we do have.

Why would God trust us to speak to thousands if we aren’t preparing well to speak to twenty?

Why would He increase our income if we’re not managing the money we already have?

Why would He expand our influence if we’re not stewarding the opportunities right in front of us?

The truth is that preparation happens long before promotion.

Faithfulness looks like showing up to work on time. It looks like handling our responsibilities with integrity. It looks like being honest with our time, our finances, our relationships, and our commitments. It looks like serving wholeheartedly, even when nobody notices.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about this with my blog and with women’s ministry. Neither one is reaching the world right now, and that’s okay. My responsibility isn’t to make them bigger. My responsibility is to be faithful with what God has already placed in my hands.

God doesn’t ask us to be successful by the world’s standards. He asks us to be faithful.

So today, instead of focusing on what you wish you had, take inventory of what God has already entrusted to you. Are you stewarding it well?

Because often the little things we’re tempted to overlook are the very things God uses to prepare us for what’s next.

Little by Little

I started running back in 2018, and lately I’ve been sharing a little more about my running journey. I really enjoy running, but I wasn’t able to run for the last three years. It’s been really nice to finally get back out there again.

When I first started back in February, it was hard. I look back now at my pace, and it took me a long time just to do a little bit, but I’m really glad I started anyway. I’m the type of person that when I jump into something, I go all in. I want to move fast, progress fast, and do more right away. But this year, when I started running again, I told myself, “I really need to take my time,” because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing too much too soon.

Honestly, it was hard to hold back sometimes. I felt like I could do more or go faster, but I’m glad I took my time. The Bible talks about in Ecclesiastes how there is a season and a time for everything, and how God makes everything beautiful in its time.

When I first started back running, it wasn’t beautiful. It would take me almost 45 minutes to run three miles, which for some people might even be a walking pace. But that’s where I was, and I’m thankful I didn’t let comparison discourage me or make me want to quit.

Now, I can run three miles much faster than that, and it only happened because I allowed my strength and fitness to come back little by little.

That phrase, “little by little,” reminds me of Exodus 23:30, where God says, “Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”

I love that verse because sometimes we want everything to happen immediately. We want instant growth, instant strength, instant results. But God often works little by little because He’s growing us in the process. Sometimes we are not ready yet for the full thing we’re asking for, and growth takes time.

This is a lesson I’ve had to apply throughout my whole life.

When I wrote my book from 2021 through 2023, I had to write it little by little too. I was homeschooling, still new to homeschooling, and I didn’t have large chunks of free time. I didn’t release my book until 2024, but little by little adds up.

Whatever feels overwhelming to you right now, start little by little.

Maybe you have a huge room you need to declutter. Work on it for 5 or 10 minutes, then come back tomorrow and do another 5 or 10 minutes.

Maybe you want to organize the 24,182 pictures on your phone. Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and organize a few at a time.

We live in such an all-or-nothing society, and sometimes that mindset can become part of our personality too. But the truth is, you can accomplish a lot little by little.

I hope this encourages you today.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

So whatever feels insurmountable to you right now, just know that with the help of the Lord, and with the willingness to keep moving forward little by little, you can do it. You can make progress, and you can see success.

Grace for the Race

Last week, I wrote about running our own race and staying focused on the path God has marked out for us. But during that same 10K race, something happened that stayed with me long after I crossed the finish line.

As I was running, I saw a woman walking in the opposite direction, crying.

I don’t know her story. Maybe she got hurt. Maybe she realized the distance was more than she expected. I truly don’t know the details, and this is in no way meant to shame her.

But seeing her walk away from the course made me think about how easy it can be in life to feel like turning around and giving up.

Sometimes life feels overwhelming. Sometimes we hit seasons where we think, “I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

Maybe it’s your finances.
Maybe it’s your marriage.
Maybe it’s parenting, ministry, work, or just the weight of life itself.

Paul encouraged believers over and over again to keep going. In Galatians 6:9 he writes:

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

I love that verse because it acknowledges something important:
Sometimes you will feel tired.

But tired doesn’t always mean it’s time to quit.

One thing I love about races is that all throughout the course there are water stations. And it always amazes me how they seem to appear at exactly the right moment, right when you feel like you really need one.

When you’re running, stopping briefly at a water station doesn’t mean you failed the race. It doesn’t mean you quit. It simply means you needed to refresh yourself so you could keep going.

And I think Jesus is that for us.

Jesus said:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Sometimes what we need is not to give up.
Sometimes we simply need rest.
We need to pause, regroup, pray, worship, breathe, and spend time in the presence of God.

The goal isn’t to push ourselves until we completely fall apart. The goal is to stay in the race.

2 Peter 1:3 reminds us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. That means whatever season we are facing, God will provide the strength, grace, wisdom, and endurance we need to keep moving forward.

So if you’re tired, rest.
If you’re weary, go to Jesus.
If you’re discouraged, pause at the water station.

But don’t give up mid-race.

Run Your Race

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found in 1 Corinthians 9:24–27. Paul writes:

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win. All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I’m not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified.”

Part of my goal for this summer is to let some of you get to know me a little bit better, and one of my favorite things in the world is running.

I started running in 2018, and over the years I’ve completed a few half marathons and even a marathon. I had to take a couple years off because of some different life circumstances, but this year I’m finally back to running consistently for the first time in three years, and honestly, it feels amazing.

There’s just something about being outside in God’s creation that brings me peace. The quiet. The movement. The fresh air. It clears my mind and settles my spirit in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran my longest race of the year so far, a 10K. The event also included a 5K, a half marathon, and a full marathon. Those races started before ours, so by the time we got onto the trail, runners from all the different distances were already spread out along the course.

At one point, I saw someone already turning around and heading back toward the finish line, and for a second I thought, How are they already that far ahead of me?

Then I remembered… they weren’t running my race.

They may have been part of the half marathon or the marathon. Their turnaround point was different than mine because their course was different than mine.

And immediately I felt the Lord speak something to my heart:

Stop comparing yourself to people who were never assigned your race.

How often do we do that in life?

We look around and think:
“They already bought a house.”
“They’re married.”
“They have kids.”
“They’re traveling.”
“They seem further ahead.”
“They’re doing better than me.”

And before we know it, we feel behind simply because we’re measuring our journey against someone else’s course.

But God never asked us to run their race.

He asked us to faithfully run ours.

We are not competing with other people. We are not competing with other ministries, organizations, or platforms. Our responsibility is simply to run the race God has marked out for us, and to run it well.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 37:23:

“The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord.”

That verse has grounded me so many times.

When I feel behind…
When I feel uncertain…
When I wonder if I should be further along than I am…

I remind myself that if my life belongs to God, then He is ordering my steps.

Not because I’ve earned it through perfection or performance, but because I belong to Him.

That means every step matters.
Every season has purpose.
Every delay, every stretch of growth, every quiet season, every new beginning, God sees it all.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:26:

“So I run with purpose in every step.”

That’s what I want my life to look like.

Not distracted.
Not constantly comparing.
Not discouraged because someone else appears farther ahead.

I want to run with purpose the race God has given me.

Paul also says:

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.”

If I’m honest, there are plenty of mornings when I don’t want to run.

I don’t want to get up early.
I don’t want to run when it’s cold.
I don’t want to look at my training schedule and realize I have seven or eight miles ahead of me.

Sometimes I’d rather stay on the couch and watch a movie.

But training teaches you something important:
You don’t always do what you feel like doing. You train yourself to do what you should do.

And I think spiritually, that matters too.

So many people are overwhelmed because they’re focusing on everybody else’s calling, everybody else’s success, everybody else’s timeline.

But maybe the better question is simply:
What should I be doing right now?

Not ten years from now.
Not what someone else is doing.
Not what social media says your life should look like.

Just:
“What has God asked me to do today?”

Micah 6:8 says this:

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

That’s it.

Run your race.
Do what’s right.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly with God.

And trust that if He ordered your steps, He knows exactly where He’s leading you.

Directed, Not Distracted

I was reading this morning in the book of Mark, chapter 1, verses 35 through 39. This is toward the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

It says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed, ‘Everyone is looking for you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’ So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”

Jesus went off to be by Himself to pray, as He often did. The disciples found Him and said, “Everyone is looking for you.” There were expectations. People needed Him. People wanted Him. There were things to do.

But before He responded to people, He met with God.

The disciples had expectations of what Jesus should be doing and how He should be moving. But Jesus didn’t let the expectations of others determine His direction. He got His instructions from the Father first.

And because of that, when they came to Him, He already had clarity. He told them they needed to move on. That wasn’t random. That came from time spent with God.

For me, this is why having a morning routine with the Lord is so important.

And when I say morning routine, I’m not talking about skincare, workouts, or getting everything ready for the day. I’m talking about time with Jesus.

As believers, our lives should be in line with the Word of God. Ephesians 5:1 says to be imitators of God. That means we follow the example of Jesus.And Jesus got up early. He spent time with His Father. He received instructions for the day.

But a lot of times, we wake up and immediately start receiving instructions from everyone else.

We check our phones. We look at our schedules. We think about what we need to do, who needs us, what’s expected of us.

And before we know it, our day is already being directed by everything and everyone around us.

But what if we stopped first?

What if we took time to ask God, “What do You want me to do today?”

Because the truth is, I don’t know what I need for the day.

But He does.

No matter how busy the day is, I make time for this every morning. Because I don’t want to move based on pressure, expectations, or habit.

I want to move based on His instruction.

When Stillness Feels Hard

Just a few minutes ago, I finished one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

In 2021, I ran my first, and possibly only, marathon. If you don’t know, a marathon is 26.2 miles, and it was very hard. In 2024, I released a book that I worked on for three years. For half of that time, I didn’t even have a laptop and had to write on my phone. That was hard too.

But the hard thing I just did was something that has always been difficult for me, and still is. I sat in silence for five minutes.

Silence is really hard for me. I like to talk. I like noise. I’m one of those people who has the TV on all day, even if it’s just a screensaver. Most of the time I’m listening to something, a podcast, a teaching message, or music. I just don’t really like silence.

But I’m working on incorporating times of silence with the Lord every day.

I have no problem spending time in His Word. I have no problem watching encouraging messages. I have no problem singing worship, writing, or journaling. But to just sit still, be quiet, and do nothing is so hard for me.

And yet, we see so many examples in Scripture where Jesus went off to a solitary place, an isolated place, to be alone. To sit with God.

That’s what I’m learning right now. To sit with Him. Not always asking Him for things, or telling Him about my day, or processing all my thoughts out loud. But just sitting and listening, being open to anything He might want to say.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

I’m in a season where I’m coming out of a lot of movement and a lot of activity. And now, that movement is intentionally slowing down.

There’s a line from the Sound of Music where a character says that “activity suggests a life filled with purpose.” And I think that’s how I’ve lived for a long time, always moving, always doing, always filling the space.

But I’m learning something new.

I’m learning that stillness is not wasted. That quiet is not empty. That stepping back does not mean losing purpose.

Sometimes, the most faithful thing you can do is stop.

There are situations and seasons you cannot plan your way out of. No matter how much you think, organize, or prepare, it won’t be enough.

And in those moments, the invitation is simple.

Be still.
And know that He is God.

Be still, and wait for His instruction.

Make it Enough

There’s a popular movie from the 90s, the best decade ever, with a scene where the main character’s mom sends him to the store. He looks at the money she gave him and complains that it isn’t enough for what she asked him to buy. She looks at him and simply says, “Make it enough.”

Have you ever felt like what you have just isn’t enough?

I was reading in Matthew 14:13 about when Jesus feeds the five thousand, and it led me to a simple but honest question.

I am not even talking about finances necessarily. Maybe you feel like you do not have enough time in the day to do the things you would like to do. Maybe you feel like you do not have enough energy to do the things you need to do. Or maybe you feel like you do not have the capacity to serve the way you want to serve. You are doing the best you can, you are doing what you can, but it still feels like it is not enough.

As I was reading this story, it really encouraged me. There were large crowds that had come out to see Jesus, and they were hungry. The disciples even encouraged Jesus to send the people away so they could go into the villages and find food for themselves. But Jesus responded in Matthew 14:16, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

This story is told in all four Gospels. In one account, a disciple finds a little boy with a small lunch. In Matthew, when Jesus tells them to feed the people, they respond in Matthew 14:17, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

They were stating a fact. What they had was not enough.

And that is often where we stop. We see the facts, and we feel defeated.

But Jesus did not stop at the facts. He gave them instructions.

First, He said to bring what they had to Him. When we feel like we do not have enough, what we do have needs to be placed in Jesus’ hands. I think about waking up in the morning and saying, “Lord, I have things I want to do today. Maybe I did not sleep well, maybe I feel tired, but I give this day to You.”

Then Jesus had the people sit down on the grass. He created order. He made a plan.

If you feel like you do not have enough, that may be true, but it is not the end of the story. Look at what you do have and give it to the Lord, then take a moment to organize. What actually needs to be done today? Maybe instead of trying to do twenty things, you only need to focus on three. Jesus paused and brought structure before the miracle.

Finally, Jesus took the loaves and the fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed them. He gave thanks for what was already in His hands.

That is a reminder for us to thank God for what we do have and trust Him to make it enough.

Matthew 14:20 says, “They all ate and were satisfied, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

Because the disciples were obedient in giving what they had to Jesus, it became more than enough.

If you are in a season where you feel like what you have is not enough, I want to encourage you to give it to Jesus.

He will make it enough.