I believe the Lord has a word of encouragement for those who are facing some kind of shortfall at this time.
You have a call from God, or a promise, but are faced with a limitation.
An impossibility.
Your Father is releasing a gift of faith to you, so you can look at that shortfall and declare, “My God is greater than you!”
The Day a Responsibility Led to a Crisis
A shortfall means there is a gap between what you need, and what you have.
There is a deficit.
Mark’s Gospel includes an interesting detail in the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.
After telling the disciples they were responsible to feed the thousands of people gathered that day, Jesus said:
“How many loaves do you have?”
“Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
(Mark 6:38 NIV)
They didn’t just have a shortfall. They had a crisis!
It’s interesting that Jesus asked them to specifically count how many they had.
And—to report the number back to Him!
Of course, Jesus knew. But He wanted them to pay attention to how much they had on hand.
He was teaching them about faith and the works of God.
The Shortfall Presents a Challenge
Sometimes, in order to face the reality of what lies within us, we need to have tough conversations with God.
When Jesus commanded His disciples to feed the crowd, they pushed back at Him.
They resisted.
“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?” (Mark 6:37, NIV)
Read between the lines: “That’s expensive—we don’t even have that kind of money—plus, it means we have to walk into the villages to shop—and we’re already exhausted!”
Yet Jesus said, “Go and see! How many do you have?”
Jesus wanted the disciples to be very clear about what they had to begin with.
To face that shortfall and the facts it presented.
Beginning with a deficit was not a challenge to Jesus.
- In fact, the little, given into His hands, was the seed for the much
Those five loaves and two fish were the very means Jesus used to feed a multitude. He passed them back through the disciples’ hands.
And they did. Indeed. Feed a multitude.
A Key to Miracle-Working Faith: See With Both Eyes
Faith is the ability to see with two eyes—to perceive in two realms, the earth realm and the Kingdom realm, at once.
Sometimes we want to close our eyes to the facts. And yet faith can look squarely at the impossible, whilst seeing the miracle.
Faith is honesty.
It’s showing up to Jesus, the shortfall in hand, and offering what you have to Him.
Faith is not denial, it is not averting your gaze from the facts.
Faith is not turning aside, but a courageous and accurate summing up of the situation.
Whilst at the same time, perceiving Father’s intention.
Faith that Faced Facts
We read of Abraham,
“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God…” (Rom 4:19-20 NIV)
Abraham’s example shows us that faith is not standing in denial of the facts.
- Facing the reality of his limitation caused Abraham to grow in faith and give glory to God
Today, your Father declares you brave.
So, if you’ve been tempted to deny the existence of your shortfall, don’t.
Instead, take a look. Count what you have.
See what you don’t have.
Now, feel the strength of the Holy Spirit pour into you.
That fact—your natural reality—does not contradict what God says.
- It stands alongside, and then, submits to the Heavenly Order
So, hand over your shortfall to Jesus. And listen for His command.
Perhaps there is an action the Holy Spirit is alerting you to, that you need to take today.
As you move, hear the Lord saying, “Beloved! You have great faith and great is your reward!”
Is this prophetic teaching about faith meaningful to you? I’d love to hear from you. Let’s agree with each other in prayer for the miracle you need. Share it with us in the blog comments section below, or on Facebook or Instagram.
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Related Posts:
You Can Count on God: 6 Principles of Kingdom Mathematics
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In the David McCracken Ministries family
This was so timely for me today. I refuse to not believe God. I will stand in faith and confidence, listen for his guiding voice,. I know i have great faith!
Thank you, Minister Florence Johnson
Yes! Praying and standing in agreement with you right now, Minister Florence
My name is Edgar, and I am from South Africa. I heard my phone going and see it was 2:53am, your email coming through. That’s the time I normally wake up to pray. I read the mail, and am quite encouraged. Yes it is speaking to me about the things laying ahead of me, and normally I am like that, looking or facing the facts, but is a real blessing that the Lord is releasing the faith now in my heart to behold the miracle of what I’m trusting Him for. Thank you for listening to the Lord, and the word of grace. Shalom.
Hi Edgar, I love that! Yes, beholding the miracle. I had a picture which led to this post, of seeing through binoculars (two lenses) and seeing Heavenly blueprints. We do need to see through both eyes and I believe it will release something significant for you!
Amazing.
About two hours ago, the Lord directed me to
Numbers 11:21 KJV
And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
I was amazed to see how God did this in a day.
I did a little maths and realized that that need cost far more than mine and that certainly stirred up my faith for God’s provision.
This post is a confirmation for which I am grateful.
Hi Helen, I’m Maureen from Namibia and i want to agree with you in prayer that the Lord will do the impossible for me, this word speaks to me about my calling and the limitations im facing,help me pray for growth in faith and fear of failure.
That’s awesome, Lade! It’s amazing how many times specific numbers are mentioned in Scripture. I pray for your provision to be released
Numbers 21:17-18 (NIV)
17 Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!
Sing about it,
18 about the well that the princes dug,
that the nobles of the people sank—
the nobles with scepters and staffs.”
I am believing God for the settlement of my bond I am currently in arrears but my faith is stirred up thank you Helen
Thank you for this Word. I am in a financial crisis at this time. This word has given me the tools to go to God by faith, also to build my faith. Thank you for your obedience and may God continue to bless your ministry
Agreeing with you, Deon for that breakthrough, even an unexpected supply. And thank you
Thank you so much for this word, I thank God for you and i appreciate you Helen. Thank you for being obedient
Prayer for pregnancy. Two miscarriages and 2 failed IVF’s. Our numbers are very good…but the egg quality seems low. I’m now 45 and it seems impossible.
Hi Lauren, praying with you both right now <3
Thanks Helen. I appreciate you!
Hi ,Been feeling inadequate as a Christian
so I told God what I had and what I need,
‘Heard Him sayI was’strong in his strength and in his keeping,tender’-strong!i felt so weak but Jesus didn’t see
me like that.I was to rest on him,the
battle was his.Never thought of telling God what I had and what I need ,thank you;Jesus wants to meet our shortfall!
Yes amen! You remind me of this one, Susan
1 Cor 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
It’s amazing that our weakness and His power are seen together