John Chapter 6 in the Discovering Jesus study has the theme of faith, belief, and the Holy Spirit. I love the story of the little boy who came to hear Jesus with his mama’s packed lunch of 5 barley loaves and two fish. Perhaps the lunch was for him, his siblings, and the father who brought them? Yet, I also wonder if the Spirit led the mom, like most of us, to pack some extra that day. That extra allowed Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, to notice. Before the notice, Jesus asks Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” They were on a hillside with thousands of people wanting to learn from Jesus, and the people were hungry. The little boy shared his lunch, and Jesus turned the 5 loaves and 2 fish into a miracle, and not only fed the thousands, but also had 12 baskets left over. I think of all the people involved in this story that led to Jesus’s creation of a miracle to meet people’s basic needs. One small gesture of a mom packing a lunch, a child sharing his lunch, and the concern and care of the disciples turned gestures into miracles. Stop and think about your influence when you believe and act on this principle–God can use you to love others in small ways that He can turn into grand gestures of generosity.

The chapter asks, “Will we believe in Jesus because of who He is, or for what He can do for us?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” (verse 29)

This sounds so easy, yet I believe it can be easier to have faith in something that requires you to prove yourself or take action. It’s also challenging to maintain belief when you need something from God and it doesn’t seem to be coming—your faith tends to waver. Jesus tried hard to convey Kingdom principles to the disciples, and the message was hard to grasp. On this side of the cross, we understand why Jesus is called the Bread of Life. Why he shared that we drink and eat of Him, because, when we accept His love, “He remains in me, and I in Him” (verse 56) However, many were so confused and frustrated because they could not understand and they knew his earthly farther was Joseph-so how can you sit there and call yourself the Bread of Life? This caused many to walk away and to desert him. Jesus, who felt all the human emotions of rejection, asks his 12 disciples, “Are you also going to leave?” Oh, how I love Peter’s response! “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (verses 68 – 69) Jesus also knew that one of the 12 would later betray him. (verse 70) All the emotions of the miracles, the moment of teaching, and the murmuring of the people who rejected Him twisted and turned into one of those moments that just seem all-consuming and confusing; yet, for Peter, it inspired his faith. He had the living God beside him, asking him pointed questions. That is what prayer can do for us, and the belief that the Holy Spirit works out our faith daily and is ready to ask, respond, and listen through our prayers.

In our own lives, we often encounter moments of doubt and confusion similar to what the disciples experienced. When faced with challenges, it can be tempting to turn away from our faith, especially when we feel abandoned or our needs aren’t met in the way we expect. However, Peter’s declaration highlights an essential truth: faith is not just about our circumstances; it’s about the relationship we have with Jesus. To apply this in our daily lives, we can strive to cultivate a deeper connection with Him through prayer, scripture, and community. When we anchor ourselves in this relationship, we can find the strength to persevere through doubts and struggles, confidently proclaiming that, despite the challenges we face, there is nowhere else we would turn because He offers us the hope and eternal life that nothing else can provide. Embracing this truth allows us to transform moments of wavering faith into opportunities for growth, ultimately leading us closer to the heart of God.