S11.12 | Loaves and Fishes Faith: How God Multiplies What You Surrender
Do you ever feel like what you have to offer God is just too small? Maybe it’s your time, your finances, your energy, or even your faith. In this episode of Affirming Truths, Christian Mental Health Coach Carla Arges shares how God takes the little we place in His hands—our “loaves and fishes,” our “oil and flour”—and multiplies it into more than enough.
Drawing from the miracles of Scripture and her own life, Carla reminds us that before the miracle comes, there’s an invitation to surrender. What feels small in our eyes is often the very seed God uses to bring breakthrough. If you’ve been waiting on God for provision, healing, or direction, this episode will encourage you to take the step of faith and offer Him what you have today.
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3 Key Takeaways from This Episode
God Invites Us Into the Miracle. Jesus could have fed the crowd without the boy’s lunch, but He chose to multiply what was surrendered.
Your Little Becomes More Than Enough. The widow’s last bit of oil and flour sustained her household because she trusted God with it.
Surrender Precedes Multiplication. God can’t multiply what we hold back. Healing, provision, and breakthrough often begin when we release control.
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Foundations to Healing—-> https://www.carlaarges.com/foundations-of-healing
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Resources:
5 Steps to Building Resiliency
Affirming Truths Facebook Community
5 Tips for Overcoming a Negative Body Image
Who You Say I Am Biblical Affirmation Cards
Summary
God's Work Amidst Imperfection
Carla recorded a podcast episode while unwell, initially considering skipping it to replay previous content. However, she felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to share a lesson about not waiting for perfection before engaging with God. Carla emphasized that waiting to show up only when feeling prepared misses opportunities for God's work.
Miracle of Multiplication
Carla shared a biblical story from John 6 about a boy with five small loaves of bread and two small fish that Jesus used to feed a large crowd of 5,000-15,000 people with leftovers. She emphasized that the miracle would not have happened if the crowd had dismissed the offering as insufficient.
Podcast Recording Amid Health Challenges
Carla discussed recording a podcast episode while feeling unwell and dealing with neck and shoulder pain from being knocked over during a basketball game brawl. Despite these challenges, Carla expressed determination to proceed with the recording and video upload.
Surrendering for God's Miraculous Provision
Carla discussed the importance of surrendering what we have to God, even when we doubt its sufficiency or feel broken. She shared her personal experience of surrendering her trauma and mental illness, which led to the creation of her business "Carla Arge's Affirming Truth" focused on Christian Mental Health Coaching. Carla referenced the biblical story of the widow and Elijah to illustrate how God can multiply what is offered in faith, emphasizing that sometimes the delay in miracles occurs because we haven't fully surrendered our resources to God's provision.
Church Giving and Mental Health
Carla discussed the importance of financial giving in the church, noting that only 20-30% of church attendees contribute to keeping the church operational. She connected this to mental health and faith, emphasizing how small actions can have significant impact when aligned with God's will. Carla highlighted that God often calls people to simple, straightforward actions like loving others, forgiving, and renewing their minds, though these actions may not always be easy to implement.
Surrendering to God's Multiplication
Carla discussed the concept of surrendering to God and how He multiplies what is given to Him. She encouraged the audience to reflect on small things in their lives that they haven't offered to God yet, such as pain, time, finances, talents, and gifts. Carla committed to surrendering various aspects of her life to God and invited others to consider what they could surrender to see how God might multiply it.