Snacks and Sanity: My Everyday Essentials
I rarely leave the house without my trusty Yeti-wannabe tumbler (32 oz, room temp, because yes, that does matter) and a snack in my purse. Protein bars, almonds, something that won’t melt or crumble too fast. Why? Because I know what happens when I don’t. It gets ugly. We’re talking full-on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hangry. I’ve learned the hard way that when my blood sugar dips, so does my ability to be polite. Or patient. Or remotely pleasant.
The Crowd That Forgot to Pack
So, when I read about the feeding of the 5,000 in Mark 6, I couldn’t help but marvel, not just at the miracle, but at the people. They followed Jesus without thinking about what they’d eat or drink. No meal prep. No trail mix. Just hearts hungry for whatever He was going to say or do.
Hungry for More Than Food
And you know what? I admire that. They were so eager to be near Jesus that they didn’t count the cost. They didn’t plan ahead. They just went.
I would’ve been the woman trailing behind yelling, “But what about snacks?”
When Planning Isn’t the Point
And yet, Jesus doesn’t shame them for coming unprepared. He doesn’t send them away to go figure it out. He sees their need and He meets it with five loaves and two fish. Something small. Insignificant. Laughably insufficient. But in His hands, more than enough.
Bring What You Have—Even If It’s Not Much
The disciples, ever practical, suggest sending the people home. I get it. It made sense on paper. But Jesus had something more in mind. He wasn’t just feeding bellies. He was feeding faith. And maybe the test wasn’t only for the disciples. Maybe it was also for the crowd, the ones who followed first and figured things out later.
Following Jesus Without a Backup Plan
Sometimes, we hesitate to follow Jesus because we’re not ready. We want to have everything packed, every scenario planned for. We like our spiritual snacks and backup plans. But what if the point is to come without all that? To simply come. Needy, unprepared, but expectant?
If Jesus can multiply a meager lunch into a feast for thousands, surely He can take our small, imperfect offerings too. Our tired words. Our broken schedules. Our not-enoughs. He just asks us to bring what we have and trust Him with the rest.
If Jesus can multiply a meager lunch into a feast for thousands, surely He can take our small, imperfect offerings too.
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A Prayer for Trusting Provision
So today, I’m challenged to be more like those who left without snacks. Not because I want to be hangry (no thank you), but because I want to follow Jesus with that kind of abandon. I want to believe that He will meet my needs (spiritual, emotional, physical) even when I show up a little empty-handed.
Lord, help me follow You with that kind of faith. The kind that trusts You to provide, even when I didn’t plan ahead. Multiply what I bring, no matter how small, and use it for Your glory.