Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Good morning from Colorado!
“Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” — John 6:12
Something about this verse makes me slow down. Jesus had just fed thousands of people with five barley loaves and two fish. What looked like far too little became more than enough in Jesus’ hands. When everyone had eaten, Jesus told His disciples to gather up the fragments that remained, so that nothing would be lost.
Let’s think about that for a moment.
Before the miracle, the disciples looked at the crowd and the limited food and wondered how they could possibly feed everyone. Jesus, however, took what was available, gave thanks, and multiplied it. When the meal was over, there was still something left. There were fragments.
Isn’t life sometimes like that?
Storms can leave us with fragments. A dream may not turn out the way we imagined. A career may take an unexpected turn. An educational goal may be delayed. A relationship may change. Finances may become strained. Our confidence may take a beating. Sometimes we look around after a difficult season and wonder what is left to work with.
But perhaps we’ve been looking at the fragments the wrong way.
We may see broken pieces and think, “It’s over.” Jesus looked at what remained and said, “Gather it up.”
I don’t believe that means everything broken has to be put back together exactly as it was. Sometimes life changes us, and sometimes we have to let certain things go. But that doesn’t mean the entire experience was wasted.
There may be a lesson in the failure.
There may be wisdom in the disappointment.
There may be strength that came from surviving something we never thought we could survive.
There may even be a new direction hidden inside something we thought had completely fallen apart.
The fragments may not look like much, but they’re still part of our story. And perhaps God can use what remains to help us build what comes next.
So today, instead of focusing on everything that was lost, let’s take a closer look at what remains.
What fragments are still in your hands?
Maybe it’s time to gather them.
Maybe it’s time to stop calling them worthless.
And maybe, just maybe, the storm isn’t the whole story.
I’ll see you tomorrow for another 15 Minutes with God.
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