The passage in Matthew 14:13-20 records an incident where Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God and healed the sick in a remote place. As evening approached, a situation arose: the crowd needed food. The disciples, after analyzing the situation from a natural perspective, suggested that Jesus dismiss the crowd so the people could find food on their way home. They were concerned about the cost of feeding so many people and worried about spending all the money (Mark 6:37).

However, Jesus was not earthly-minded. He was always connected to His Father and looked beyond natural limitations. He was not comfortable sending the people away without addressing their physical needs, because He cared deeply for them. So, He asked the disciples what they had at hand. They found that they had only five loaves of bread and two fish—barely enough for one person. Yet, the need was huge, as there were more than 5,000 people to be fed.

Jesus, receiving the little that was available, without hesitation or doubt, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, and broke the loaves. Pause and consider: what did He thank God for? In a situation of lack, when the need was beyond comprehension and there seemed to be no way to fulfill it, Jesus gave thanks for what was in His hands. He blessed the little available, trusting in an increase. The very act of being thankful opened heaven’s door for multiplication. To their amazement, the bread and fish multiplied; everyone ate and was satisfied, and the disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftover pieces (Matthew 14:20).

In Scripture, there are many examples of God multiplying what is in our hands to bring greater breakthroughs. God asked Moses, “What is in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2). When Moses yielded his simple shepherd’s rod, God transformed it into the Rod of God, which he later used to part the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16). God multiplied the flour and oil in the widow of Zarephath’s house during the famine when she honored God and followed the instructions of Prophet Elijah, feeding both her family and the prophet (1 Kings 17:14-16). Similarly, God multiplied the oil in a widow’s jar when she obeyed Prophet Elisha, enabling her to clear her debts (2 Kings 4:1-7). This is a spiritual principle that God has established.

When we face lack or need, instead of being discouraged or undervaluing what we have, we should be thankful for the blessings already in our hands. Thanking God for what we have, opens the way for His blessings to overflow in our areas of need. When we bless what we already have by giving thanks, it multiplies. Even in difficult situations, a heart of gratitude honors God and unlocks the floodgates of heaven.

Being thankful is not always easy! Reminding ourselves of this truth helps cultivate a thankful heart: We deserve nothing, yet God loved us and blessed us through the sacrifice of Jesus. All we enjoy is because of Him; therefore, we ought to be thankful even for the smallest blessings each day. Scripture instructs us:

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

The more we are rooted and built up in Him, the stronger our faith, and the more we will overflow in thankfulness (Colossians 2:7). May the Lord give you grace to be thankful and experience increase in every area of your life!