Listen to this post
I have learned through a lifetime of music and ministry that God rarely asks us to have "enough" before He begins to work; He simply asks us to offer what we have.
Saturdays in our little cabin always had a special rhythm. I spent many hours as an inspirational composer at the piano, but I spent just as many in the kitchen. On this particular Saturday, I had baked a fragrant applesauce cake and tucked it away on a naturally chilled shelf built into the cabin wall. It was a humble dessert, meant for a simple family treat.
However, Sunday morning changed the plan. My husband invited the entire church back to our home for a meal. At that time, we lived a life of total dependence on the Lord, praying for every meal we ate. As I looked at that solitary cake, a wave of concern hit me. I wanted my friends and family to have something nourishing, but my human eyes could only see a physical limit. I didn't see how that one cake could possibly be enough for such a crowd.
I set the cake on the table and began to pray. I knew the stories of the loaves and the fishes, and I had seen the Lord multiply food for us before, yet I still felt a tug-of-war in my heart between my anxiety and my faith. I started cutting thick, generous slices—I didn't want anyone to feel slighted. A voice in the back of my head whispered, "This is not going to last."
But as I kept cutting, the cake simply didn't run out. Every person in the room was served, and every person was satisfied. It was as if the Lord was standing right beside me, adding a little bit more with every slice. When the meal was over, we didn't just break even; we had a third of the cake left over. It was a beautiful Steps To Joy moment that I will never forget.
Reflection: What is the "one cake" in your life today that feels insufficient for the task at hand? When we surrender our small portions to Him, we provide the Platforms of Praise for Him to demonstrate His abundance. God is not limited by our math; He is moved by our trust.
