In this message, we’re reminded to boldly declare: “Don’t count me out.” People may overlook you, underestimate your potential, or assume you don’t have what it takes—but God counts on what others counted out.

The backdrop of this sermon begins with Jesus grieving the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. Even Jesus experienced emotional overwhelm. Instead of pushing through while drained, He withdrew to be alone with the Father. This teaches us a vital lesson: when you are emotionally shaken, step away, sit still, and process with God. Moving out of season can cost more than you expect. Alignment requires quiet.

Scripture Focus: John 6:1–14

In the feeding of the 5,000, the disciples overlook a young boy with a small lunch. He doesn’t look like a solution—just like many of us who have been dismissed because we didn’t “look the part.” Yet Jesus calls the one everyone else counted out.

Key Illustration:
Picture the boy holding a tiny basket of bread and fish—his entire lunch. Jesus is standing nearby with a much larger basket on His back, saying, “If you trust Me, I’ll make an exchange. Give Me what you have, and I’ll give you what I’m carrying. But you won’t see what I have until you trust Me first.”

Sometimes God hides what He’s carrying because seeing it would make faith too easy. Trust must come before sight. When we stretch out what’s in our hands, He releases what only He can provide.

The boy was close enough for Jesus to make a handoff. Proximity matters. Stay close enough to God that He can place in your hands what He has prepared for your next season.

When the boy surrendered his lunch, Jesus multiplied it—not just for the crowd, but for the boy himself. God used the one who stood in the background… the one dismissed… the one overlooked.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Don’t count yourself out just because others did. God specializes in using overlooked people.
• Make space to process emotional overwhelm. Even Jesus stepped away to gather Himself.
• Trust before you see. God often hides the blessing until after your obedience.
• Your “little” becomes “much” in God’s hands.
• Stay close enough for the handoff. Proximity positions you for divine exchange.
• You belong in the room—even when others make you feel like you don’t.

God is getting ready to use what you thought disqualified you. The miracle did not start in the hands of Jesus—it started in the hands of the boy who dared to believe, “Don’t count me out.”