The Leftovers
“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” – John 6:12-13
Have you ever looked at your own past and wish for former seasons in your life? You know, it’s easy to romanticize the past… that time where you used to be more disciplined and you were in shape, when you used to be a better steward of your money, when you cared more about your relationships and friends, when you would make time to read the Bible, when you would volunteer in church without expecting anything back.
In the past everything seems to be so different and whole; we were good back then.
Nowadays, we barely have strength, discipline, courage, or faith. We have become nothing but the shadow of what we used to be. We have nothing but leftovers. Can you relate so far?
The leftovers in the kitchen are the food that’s judged to be unworthy of the main meal plate, but when left in the fridge overnight, it somehow seems to take on an extra special flavor… just try with soup, it grows savory and richer! Leftovers are so good. And it turns out, Jesus likes leftovers too.
There’s nothing worse than that feeling of being the last kid picked in a sport activity in school, where the two most popular kids in the classroom are the ones choosing and you end up being the “left alone” kid. No one wants to be the leftover, it’s the worst fate you can have.
It just so happens that Jesus has a heart for the “leftovers”. He is an expert at doing miracles with what’s left. Nothing goes to waste with Him.
God is not focused on what we have lost, He isn’t focused in our past and how we used to be. He is an expert at using and blessing what’s left… that little amount of faith in His hands amounts to much (as little as a mustard seed), that small amount of willingness and courage is all He needs, our tired hands being lifted up once again is all it takes for Him to do a miracle.
Yet so often, we pray for God to give us something more and new, we try to rationalize that it’s what we need to actually fulfill the calling He has given us… “If I could only get a new job, if I could only have more money I could help people in need, etc.”
God doesn’t care about our lack; He cares about what’s leftover. So, what’s leftover in our lives? The average person working 40 hours a week has 4.5 hours to spare per day. What if instead of filling it with more entertainment and self-care, we give God that wasted time? What if we trade that little bit of faith we have and throw the net once again?
So often we pray for things that we believe we need, when we already have more than enough to succeed in His calling. Perhaps it’s time to change our prayers and ask God to “reveal what we already have.” Five small barley loaves and two fish was more than enough to feed 5,000, not including kids and women.
As the end of 2022 is soon approaching have you given it a thought, what can God do with the “leftovers” of this year?