In Jesus’ Hands, It’s Always Enough: Loaves & Fishes Week Two

In Jesus’ Hands, It’s Always Enough: Loaves & Fishes Week Two

by | Jun 8, 2026 | Loaves & Fishes, Provision, Trust

Happy Monday, everyone,
 
I’m excited to share week two of our Loaves & Fishes series with you! If you’re just joining us, we’re looking at stories of God’s provision in the Bible. This week, we’re stepping into the story of Jesus’ feeding the 5,000, which inspired this series. Today’s devotion focuses on how Jesus confronted the disciples’ scarcity mindset. If you tend to worry about where resources will come from, this devotion is for you - or you can share this with someone who needs encouragement! Next week, we’ll look at how Jesus prepared the crowd to receive God’s miraculous provision.
 
Did you know that all four gospels cover Jesus' feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6? It is an impressive story! However, since Jesus had a hand in creating the entire universe, feeding a large group of people wasn’t a stretch. But, Jesus’ disciples were stressed!
 
ARE YOU GRIPPED BY A SCARCITY MINDSET?
Today, we’re using the gospel writer Mark’s account for our time together. The disciples had returned from ministry work, and they’d been so busy they didn’t have a chance to eat (Mark 6:31). Jesus invited them to go away and rest, but crowds of needy people showed up. So, he stopped to teach the crowds and heal the sick. This meant the disciples had to stick around, too. By the end of the day, the men approached Jesus with a “wrap it up” request:
 
Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
 
But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
 
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” -Mark 6:35-37
 
Did they need some cheese to go with that “whine”? Seriously, I have compassion for the weary disciples. They’d worked hard and needed to rest, but needy, hungry people were everywhere. Then Jesus asked the disciples to do something they didn’t have the time, energy, or money to pull off.  
 
Here’s what’s wild: The disciples had just finished a ministry tour where Jesus sent them out and told them not to take anything other than a walking stick. They’d personally experienced God’s miraculous provision throughout that tour. Yet they panicked when Jesus told them to feed the crowd.
 
When we’re tired or stressed like the disciples, it’s easy for the scarcity mindset to creep in. We begin thinking in negative absolutes, such as:” I can’t ever do that,” “I’ll never get ahead,” “Why do they always seem to have it, but I don’t,”  or “It’s always so hard.” This is the language of a scarcity mindset. These phrases reflect how we’ve either put God in a box or we’ve ignored everything that God has already done to show His faithfulness.
 
GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE TO JESUS
Jesus doesn’t get upset with the disciples. He didn’t shame them for their scarcity mindset. Instead, he asks a question that initiated a faith-growing moment.
 
“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” -Mark 6:38 NLT
 
Jesus asked them to tap into reality: "What do you have?" Then, he sent them on a quest to find out what was available, not obsess or fret about what was missing.
 
Friends, when we’re overwhelmed or running short of time, resources, or energy, it’s so easy to criticize ourselves for what we don’t have. What if we shifted from shame or judgment and started with: What do I have?”  Let me ask you: What do you have?
 
The disciples came back with five loaves and two fish. That wasn’t enough to feed 5,000 people, but it was a starting point.
 
Then, the disciples surrendered it to Jesus.
 
But that didn’t mean everyone let go of the scarcity mindset. John’s gospel recorded Andrew, one of Jesus’ disciples:
 
But what good is that with this huge crowd?” -John 6:8 NLT
 
Let’s pause here. I appreciate that the Bible shows us how people could be with Jesus and still struggle with faith in Jesus. How many of us have walked with God for months, years, or even decades, and still we worry that God may not provide for whatever is in front of us?
 
I could be wrong about this next part, but I think Jesus performed this miracle for the disciples’ benefit, even though the people in the crowd were blessed. Even though the disciples saw Jesus perform miracles and he authorized them to perform miracles, they still lacked the spiritual vision to trust that God would provide. How many of us get tripped up on that, too?
 
TIME FOR A MIRACLE!
Now, we arrive at the part where Jesus does the miracle! (Note: I’m skipping the curious part of the story where Jesus put the people into groups. I’ll come back to that next week.)
 
Read this verse carefully. Note how the miracle happened:
 
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share. -March 6: 41 NLT
 
Two things here: First, in Jesus’ hands, not enough became everything that was needed. Second - and don’t miss this: God’s provision wasn’t apparent all at once. He could have produced a giant pile of bread and fish, but He didn't. Instead, Jesus kept breaking the bread and giving it to the disciples. 
 
This means miracle multiplied in Jesus’ hands as he broke the bread again and again.
 
Then, the disciples participated in the miracle as they returned to Jesus for more bread to pass out again and again. They saw how a little became much when given to God. 
 
This moment stands out to me because there have been times when I’ve carried the expectation that God’s miracle should look like everything that I need all at once. If I’m being honest, I prefer to see the entire provision because I hate uncertainty, and patience is hard! Often, God’s provision arrives at a speed or scale that requires us to keep looking toward God rather than trusting in it. (Whew! That preached to me as I wrote it!). The blessing is witnessing the miracle of God's provision over and over again. If you know what I'm talking about, can I get an amen?!
 
TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY:
Here are two takeaways from today’s devotion for you to reflect on, pray about, and hold onto:
  1. A scarcity mindset is a stronghold that God’s Spirit must break. If you struggle with chronic worry that God won’t provide, willpower won’t fix it. You need to take that struggle to God and ask Him to work it out of you. He can!
  2. If you've been worried about provision, instead of wearing yourself out over what you don't have, surrender what you do have to God. He can do miracles with whatever you give Him!
  3. Sometimes, the miracle comes all at once, but don’t miss the miracle of God taking the little you have and multiplying it for as long as you need it.
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU: What do you love about this story? Did you see the story in a fresh light today or was there an a-ha moment that you needed? I’d love to hear from you!

Read the Entire Series: Loaves & Fishes Stories Of Trusting God's Provision In Uncertain Times!

God is Faithful to Provide! Loaves & Fishes Week One

God is Faithful to Provide! Loaves & Fishes Week One

by | Jun 1, 2026 | Loaves & Fishes, Provision, Trust

Welcome to the first week of our series, Loaves & Fishes! I announced this summer series in last week’s Happy Monday, and I loved your enthusiastic response! Loaves & Fishes will feature Bible stories that remind us of God’s provision. If you’ve been feeling impatient, stressed, or discouraged, this series will give you hope to keep trusting God one day at a time.
 
Today’s question: Will God still take care of us even when we’re having a hard time trusting Him? Spoiler alert: The answer is yes.  The story we’re exploring today also includes four “Provision Principles” for you to remember this week.
 
In Exodus 16, the Israelites were in the wilderness after fleeing Egypt. They’ve been freed after 400 years of slavery, and God split the Red Sea to save them from the Egyptian army one final time. One would think all of those miracles would be unforgettable! Nope. Just one month later, here’s what happened:
 
…There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.  “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” -Exodus 16:2-3 NLT
 
Notice that it was the WHOLE community. Complaining is contagious! The Israelites were so unhappy that they thought about going back into slavery for some meat was a good plan. Apparently, the Israelites came down with an unfortunate case of “what have you done for me lately?” because they’d already forgotten that God had done for them.
 
I can be forgetful, too. God heard me whining earlier this week about something I’ve been praying for, so this devotion was well-timed for me, too.
 
Provision Principle #1: When we’re too focused on what we don’t have, we forget what God has already done for us.
 
I know that many of you are waiting for big, important prayers to be answered.  At the same time, what comes to mind more - what you’re waiting for or what you’re grateful for?
 
Did you know that gratitude calms your nervous system, allowing you to be a healthy presence around others? When we’re calm, it’s easier for us to connect with God and hear Him better, rather than let our panicked inner voice get in the way.
 
Action Step: If you catch yourself complaining or grumpy, grab a journal and keep track of God’s blessings this week. Last week, I had to do this, and I smiled when I saw the written evidence of God’s grace and blessings toward me. As we remember what God has done, gratitude reassures us that God will remain faithful in the future.
 
Provision Principle #2: God Promises to Provide, and We Don’t Need to Earn His Provision.
 
Friends, this next part is wild! Here is God’s response to their complaints. This stuns me. Every. single. time.
 
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. -Exodus 16:4 NLT
 
Instead of leaving the complaining Israelites to their own devices, God performed a miracle. What?!  He told Moses that food would fall from heaven. Have you ever seen food drop from heaven? Me, neither. Why would God show such generosity even though they’d hadn’t earned it nor had they even had faith? God provided because He promised to provide. Period.
 
God’s promise to provide continues for us today. As Paul the Apostle writes to the Philippian church from his prison cell, he reminded them not to be anxious (Philippians 4:6-7) and also this:  
 
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19 NIV
 
Don’t miss this: We often picture provision as financial or tangible. Yet, God provides even richer spiritual provision: peace, rest, wisdom, direction, transformation, and comfort. These are rich expressions of God’s generosity, and they remind me of a powerful slogan: We may not always receive exactly what we want, but God always gives us what we need.  As you reflect on something or someone you’ve been praying for, what spiritual provision have you received from God in this season as you wait?
 
Back to Exodus - Here we go:
 
Provision Principle #3: God is Not Stingy.
Back to the Israelites in the desert…not only did God send miracle food from heaven, but notice His generosity:
 
But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed. -Exodus 16:18 NLT
 
Whenever I read this part of the story, I imagine how blessed the Israelite women were by the arrival of the manna. After a lifetime in slavery, God's provision wasn’t just food, but they no longer had to worry about not having enough to feed their families.
 
Everyone had enough to eat, from the picky eaters to the strapping teenage boys with big appetites. Since there were an estimated two million people, this meant God sent enough manna each day to feed the population of Phoenix or Philadelphia. That’s a lot of manna. But it wasn’t a problem for God because God isn’t on a budget, friends. As I heard old Baptist preachers say when I was a kid, “God has cattle on a thousand hills, so He has enough to take care of you.”
 
Side note: The women didn’t need to gas up the desert minivan or drive across town to the grocery store. God delivered the manna right to them every morning, so the women didn’t need to rack their brains figuring out what to cook each day. Not only did God take them out of slavery, but His provision also reduced their daily stress. Yes!
 
Provision Principle #4: Trusting God for His Provision is a Daily Test for Our Faith
 
Friend, do you believe that God will provide even when His timing looks different than yours?
 
Waiting for God’s provision makes my eyes twitch. When I’m not sure when God will provide, I can become anxious.
 
I wonder how long it took for the Israelites to realize that God was serious about feeding them each day? We can tell from the text that they didn’t believe Him at first. In Exodus 16:4, God told the people not to save the manna overnight and to trust that He would provide it each day. But, they disobeyed, and the next morning, they discovered rotten manna. But guess what, God still provided fresh manna even though they were disobedient.
 
Here’s where the Israelites missed it: Their hope was never in the manna. God was training them to realize their hope was in Him. Same for us. There will always be something missing, broken, or changed, yet our hope isn’t in whatever we’re waiting for.
 
Our hope is in God, and our faith journey is to trust His timing and His provision, even when it doesn’t look like we’d expect.
 
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU: Where are you waiting for God to provide? If today's devotion hit the spot, leave a comment with “Manna” and let me know. 

Read the Entire Series: Loaves & Fishes Stories Of Trusting God's Provision In Uncertain Times!

You Can Stop Trying So Hard | Interview with Karolyne Roberts

You Can Stop Trying So Hard | Interview with Karolyne Roberts

by | May 28, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Are you tired of constantly striving, comparing, and wondering if you’ll ever be enough?

In this encouraging and truth-filled conversation, Barb is joined by bestselling author and speaker Karolyne Roberts to talk about her book The Beauty of Being: Strive Less and Live More with God as Your Guide. Together, they explore how we can let go of unhealthy mindsets and rest in our identity as a beloved daughter of God.

If you’re longing to feel secure in your identity, live more fully in the present, and walk confidently in God’s purpose for your life, this episode will remind you that you are already enough.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Karolyne on Instagram

Connect with Karolyne on Facebook

The Beauty of Being: Strive Less and Live More with God as Your Guide

Visit Karolyne's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Karolyne Roberts is a bestselling author and speaker who is blazing the trail for change-makers and transformational leaders around the globe. Through her YouTube channel, she impacts and inspires over 438,000 subscribers worldwide. Karolyne and her husband, Kal Roberts, are cofounders of Miss Eternity (misseternity.com). Karolyne’s women’s ministry, Dear Daddy (deardaddy.com), was created for women to embrace their God-given identity as daughters of the King and grow in intimacy with the Father. Karolyne is also the founder and CEO of the Writers Retreat (writersretreat.com), where she helps believers use their voice and writing to make an impact for the kingdom.

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here
Surrender Is Your Only Path to Peace (Surrender Principle #6)

Surrender Is Your Only Path to Peace (Surrender Principle #6)

by | May 18, 2026 | Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, The Surrendered Life

Happy Monday friends!
 
Welcome to our new Happy Monday friends from the Women’s Weekend at Sandy Cove Ministries in Maryland. Ladies, we had an amazing weekend! I’m so glad that you’re here, and I look forward to staying connected with you.
Today is the finale of our series called “The Surrendered Life.” For the past six weeks, we’ve leaned into the six Surrender Principles from my Surrendered Bible study. These six principles aren’t “to-dos” for us to follow in order to magically fix our situations. Rather, these guides equip us to trust God rather than take matters into our hands.
 
Our final principle is Surrender Principle #6: Surrender is your only path to God's peace, power, and provision.
 
As women, we love hard. We devote our lives to caring others, and we willingly make tremendous sacrifices for the people and things we love. Even when we’re worn down to the bone, we keep showing up, and  we won't give up as long as we think someone who needs our help. This is what makes us amazing!
 
But there's a but…Our heart for others and our dedication to our loved ones can trip us up when it comes to recognizing when a situation is beyond our control or when our helping is hurting someone. When something isn't working, our mindset sounds like “Well, let me try something else” or “Let me reach out to them one more time.”
 
Does Surrender Feel Like You're Letting People Down?
We drag our feet toward surrender because of the fear that if we stop the swirl of running after people, showing up for every crisis, or trying to fill all the needs, something terrible will happen. We equate letting go of control with letting people down, and that’s not true. Yes, people may become upset if we’re not available to come to their rescue, but that doesn’t mean we’re letting them down. It just means that we stop letting their problems and crises control us. Have you ever thought about it like that?

“Whatever or whoever you attempt to control will eventually control you.”

                                                                                                          -Surrendered Bible Study
A Question for You…
Toward the end of the well-known movie, “The Help,” the villain, Miss Hilly, threatens Abilene with prison as well as exposing Abilene’s participation in a book to everyone in their town. Miss Hilly wants to push Abilene into submission and bend to Hilly’s will. One of the most powerful lines in the movie happens when Abilene steps into Miss Hilly’s personal space and calmly says, “Ain’t you tired, Miss Hilly? Ain’t you tired?”
Perhaps you’ve heard God whisper the same question to you…
Are you mentally worn out from trying to figure everything out on your own?
Are you tired of nagging people to act right when they clearly don’t want to?
Are you tired of sleepless nights where you can’t pray because you’re worrying too much?
 
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, it's a good sign that you need to stop doing what you've been doing and surrender.
 
Without surrender, our hearts will become resentful and eventually hopeless. Instead of loving people well, our hearts become cynical or even bitter because either the person or situation doesn’t align with the picture in our head of how things should be. Yet when we give the situation over to God, the space where we plotted our attempts to fix it fills with God’s peace. This act of faith pulls us out of hopelessness, but only if we decide to do it.
 
Today’s verse is popular and perfect for our conversation today. As I reflected on surrender, I saw this verse in a new light. Check this out:
 
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need (to surrender!) , and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
 
Once we’ve done all we can in a situation, we need to tell God we surrender. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. God’s peace, power, and provision are waiting for us - but those blessings can’t move in if your heart and mind are filled to the brim with anxiety and stress. If you’d like to see more blessings, check out the bottom of today’s devotion for “The Blessings of the Surrendered Life” from my Surrendered Devotion.
 
What Do You Need to Surrender Today?
As we wrap, I don’t want you to start your week with any heaviness in your heart. Friend, can you take a moment and give what’s weighing you down to God? Let’s do this together. We’re going to review today’s verse again. This time, fill in the blank with your situation that you need to surrender to God today:
 
Don’t worry about _______________________; instead, pray about _____________________. Tell God what you need (to surrender)_______________________ , and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
 
I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!  If you surrendered something, you can comment “surrender”. As we end this series, I’d love to hear any stories that you’d like to share about what you’ve given over to God and how surrender has blessed you.
BUY SURRENDERED STUDY
BUY SURRENDERED DEVO

Read the Entire Series: The Surrendered Life!

How to See God in Your Story | Interview with Laurie Polich Short 

How to See God in Your Story | Interview with Laurie Polich Short 

by | May 18, 2026 | Bold Brave & Beautiful Podcast

Have you ever looked back and questioned where was God during the hard or painful moments? Are you at the point in life where you’re looking for meaning in the things that you’ve gone through?

In this episode, Barb is joined by speaker and author Laurie Polich Short to talk about her book Tracking God in Your Life: How to See God’s Work in Your Past, Experience His Presence, and Trust Him with Your Future. Together, they explore how to recognize God’s fingerprints in your everyday life — even when you question whether He sees you. 

Listen in as Laurie shows us how every experience can become evidence of God’s presence. She also highlights how creating your own “pile of stones” can help you remember His faithfulness.

If you’ve ever struggled to see where God is at work in your life, this conversation will help you trace His footprints with confidence.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

Connect with Laurie on Instagram

Connect with Laurie on Facebook

Tracking God in Your Life: How to See God’s Work in Your Past, Experience His Presence, and Trust Him with Your Future

Visit Laurie's Website

 

ABOUT OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Laurie Polich Short is a popular speaker, author, and part of the teaching team at Oceanhills Covenant Church in Santa Barbara, California. A graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, Laurie has spoken to more than a half million people at conferences, colleges, churches, and denominational events around the country, and she has been featured on PBS, Focus on the Family, RightNow Media, and more. 

Experience Life-Transforming Power of Prayer

Pray Like This Bible Study by Barb Roose

As a Christian, you know you’re supposed to pray. But do you ever find yourself wrestling with any of these questions related to prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Do I have to pray the right way for God to answer my prayer?

Am I still praying if I read pre-written prayers?

If you’ve pondered these questions or others about prayer, my Pray Like Bible Study is for you.

Even if you're a prayer warrior, Pray Like This sharpens your prayer focus and is a great resource for you to teach others about prayer.There's a reason why Jesus was passionate about prayer and I want to show you how!

Click Here

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