Stop Calculating, Start Trusting

Mark 6:37-38

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five and two fish.”

Dear Friend,

I can’t help but smile every time I read this passage. The disciples had just come back from preaching, healing, and performing miracles in Jesus’ name. Yet when faced with a hungry crowd of thousands, their first reaction was purely practical: “Lord, that would take eight months’ salary!”

How often we do the same.

When challenges come, our minds immediately run to the calculator. How much money will this cost? How much time will this take? How on earth can I fix this with what I have? We measure the need against our own resources and usually come up short.

But Jesus is gently teaching His disciples (and us) a different way of thinking. Instead of focusing on what they don’t have, He directs them to what they do: “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” Five loaves and two fish may have seemed laughable, but in His hands it became a feast that satisfied thousands, with baskets of leftovers spilling over.

The disciples’ response in this story reminds me of their reaction in the storm (Mark 4). With waves crashing and wind howling, they panicked: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Once again, they looked only at the natural  (the problem, the danger, the impossibility) and forgot WHO was right there with them.

Here’s the pattern I see:

1. A problem arises.

2. We rush to calculate what it will take.

3. Jesus invites us to trust Him with what little we have.

4. His provision exceeds anything we could imagine.

This is an invitation for us too. When life throws us problems bigger than our ability, we don’t need to stay stuck in human calculations. Instead, we can pause and remember: There is always a supernatural answer in Jesus.

Maybe today you feel like you only have “five loaves and two fish” to offer. You have too little time, too little energy, too little money, too little strength. That’s okay. Place it in His hands. He delights in multiplying the little you have into more than enough.

Let’s train our hearts so that our first thought in crisis isn’t, “I can’t,” but, “He can.”

With love and faith,

Jennifer ✝️

photo credit: Getty Images. Licensed under the Unsplash+ License

Seeds, Patience, and the Promise of Harvest

When Growth Is Slow but Sure

He also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain, first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’”

— Mark 4:26–29 (NIV)

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Jesus paints a picture here of how the Kingdom of God works. Just like a seed planted in the ground, growth happens slowly, mysteriously, and beyond our control. This parable is rich with encouragement for our faith journey. It reminds us to be patient, to trust God’s unseen work, and to rest in the certainty of His promises.

Here are four truths we can take to heart:

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1. Spiritual Growth Is Gradual

“First the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.” Growth unfolds in stages. It doesn’t happen instantly.

This is good news for us as women who sometimes feel like we should already “be there” spiritually or that others should be further along in their faith. God’s Kingdom never rushes. He is patient with us, and we must be patient with ourselves and others too. Every stage of growth matters.

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2. The Process Is Often Unseen but Active

The farmer doesn’t see what’s happening beneath the soil, but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening.

The same is true in our lives. Even when we can’t perceive change, God is working beneath the surface of our circumstances, our hearts, and our prayers. Seasons of waiting are not wasted seasons, they are sacred times where hidden growth is taking place.

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3. The Harvest Is Certain

The parable ends with the farmer gathering the ripe grain. The harvest always comes in God’s timing.

This gives us hope in two ways: the smaller “harvests” we see now - the answered prayers, growing faith, lives transformed, and the ultimate harvest when Christ returns and God’s Kingdom is fully realized. His work always leads to fruit, and nothing can stop His promises from being fulfilled.

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4. Our Role: Faithfulness, Not Control

The farmer scatters seed, but he cannot make it grow. His role is obedience; the growth belongs to God.

What a freeing truth this is for us. We don’t have to control the outcome of our efforts, our ministries, or even the people we love and pray for. Our part is to sow the seed faithfully through love, prayer, encouragement, and truth and trust God to do the work only He can do.

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✨ Take Heart, Sister

If you feel weary from waiting, if you wonder whether your prayers matter, or if you’re longing for fruit you haven’t yet seen, remember this parable. God is always at work, even in the unseen. Growth may be slow, but it is certain. Keep sowing faithfully, and trust the Lord of the harvest.

Have a wonderful week!

~Jennifer ☀️

photo credit: Kamonwan Wankaew www.unsplash.com

From Shallow Soil to Deep Roots: Growing Stronger in Faith

 

🌿 How to Grow Spiritual Roots (Mark 4:17)

In Mark 4:17, Jesus speaks about seeds that fall on rocky soil:

“But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

This verse reminds us that faith without roots cannot withstand life’s storms. Shallow roots may sprout quickly, but they won’t survive the heat of trials. As Christian women, we long to be firmly planted, deeply rooted in Christ, so that no matter what winds blow, our faith remains steady.

Here are some ways to grow strong, spiritual roots that endure:

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1. Daily Connection with God

Faith grows through relationship, not routine. Talk to God throughout your day, not only in formal prayer, but in conversation about your feelings, your struggles, and your gratitude. Spend quiet moments listening, too. Roots deepen with consistency.

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2. Nourish Yourself with Scripture

Scripture is living water for the soul. Don’t rush through it. Read slowly, allowing God’s Word to transform, not just inform. Try choosing one verse to meditate on during the day, letting it soak in like rain into soil. Journaling your reflections can also make His Word personal and lasting.

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3. Practice Obedience in Small Things

Every act of obedience strengthens your roots. Whether it’s forgiving someone, extending kindness, or choosing trust over fear, each step of faith presses your roots deeper. Roots don’t grow by hearing alone but by doing.

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4. Build Spiritual Community

Just like trees in a forest, our roots are stronger when they’re intertwined with others. Surround yourself with women of faith who uplift and encourage you. Join Bible studies, worship together, or share openly with a trusted friend. Community helps us stand firm during storms.

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5. Stay Anchored During Trials

Hardship will come. Instead of asking, “Why me?” shift your perspective to “What can I learn?” or “How can this grow me?” Trials may feel like scorching heat, but for the rooted believer, they drive faith deeper into God’s soil.

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6. Gratitude & Remembrance

Write down moments when you’ve seen God’s faithfulness. Reflecting on past blessings reminds you that He’s carried you before and will do it again. Gratitude strengthens your heart and makes you resilient in future storms.

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7. Guard Your Soil

A healthy garden requires protection. Guard your heart from negativity, fear, and influences that drain your spirit. Protect your time with God like you would protect a beloved garden from weeds.

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🌳 Encouragement

Deep roots don’t grow overnight. A strong tree becomes sturdy little by little, storm by storm. What matters most is not perfection, but your steady openness to God’s Word and your willingness to let Him shape you, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Sister, take heart: as you keep showing up with God, your roots are growing deeper than you realize. One day, you’ll look back and see that those very storms you feared are the ones that made you unshakable in Him.

Have a wonderful week,

Jennifer 💙✝️

photo credit: Diaga Ellaby unspash.com