From the Zebra Bag   Musings from a follower of Jesus, husband , father and pastor

The Energy to Love

Love is often described as a feeling, but in reality, it’s far more demanding than that. Anyone who has cared for a child knows this instinctively—love shows up in sleepless nights, constant giving, and deep exhaustion. The presence of tiredness doesn’t mean the absence of love; it reveals that real love requires energy, effort, and sacrifice.

Yet this raises an important tension: if love is so costly, what happens when we simply have nothing left to give?

The life of Jesus speaks directly into that question. In the Gospel accounts, we see that Jesus himself experienced fatigue. After sending out His disciples on mission, He invites them to come away and rest. But just as they attempt to withdraw, a crowd follows them. Instead of turning them away, Jesus responds with compassion, recognizing their deeper need. Though exhausted, He continues to teach and care for them.

As the day wears on, the disciples—tired and hungry—urge Jesus to send the crowd away. It seems like the reasonable, even responsible response. But Jesus challenges them: “You give them something to eat.” Faced with their own limitations—five loaves and two fish—they feel the impossibility of what He’s asking. Yet Jesus doesn’t deny their lack; He invites them to bring it to Him. What follows is a miracle of provision, where scarcity becomes abundance.

The lesson is simple but profound: when love is required and our energy is depleted, we are not meant to rely on ourselves alone. Faith connects us to a greater source.

A similar pattern appears after the resurrection. The disciples, overwhelmed and uncertain, return to what is familiar—fishing. After a fruitless night, Jesus meets them on the shore, provides a miraculous catch, and then prepares breakfast for them. In their weariness and confusion, He restores both their strength and their calling.

In a quiet, personal moment, Jesus speaks to Peter—who feels like he has failed—and gently calls him forward again. The message is clear: “I see you. I know your weakness. And I will give you what you need to continue.”

For us, the challenge is deeply practical. Love often appears in the small, everyday moments: a conversation when we’d rather rest, an act of service when we feel spent, a kindness that costs more than we think we can give. These moments expose our limits—but they also invite our trust.

Jesus does not call us to burnout. He calls us to dependence. The energy to love, especially when it feels impossible, is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive.

When our strength runs out, faith invites us to ask: “How, Lord?”

And in that asking, we discover that we are not alone—and never have been.