There is a point in the story of the feeding of the five thousand where I can definitely empathize with the disciples. It simply makes more sense to send people away while they still have time and means to provide for themselves than to trust that a miracle will happen. This wasn’t a spiritual Woodstock where one would rightfully expect food, sanitation, and security to be provided. The people had crashed their spiritual retreat. Jesus had been gracious, but enough is enough!
How many times have we been there ourselves? Spiritually, emotionally and financially drained we tell people by words or body language to go away. We have given all we can give. We are burned out. Enough is enough.
No guilt for that. Peeking ahead in the story we know that even Jesus went from there to be alone on the mountaintop all night. We all need to recharge our batteries at times.
Perhaps sensing the disciples level of energy, Jesus gives them simple things to do. Bring it here, have them sit down, pass this out- all one-foot-in-front-of-the-other type of commands.
Some people may try to motivate us to do the heroic over-achieving thing. It may make more sense to simply do the best you can and leave the rest to God. You may not have fulfilled people’s expectations, maybe not even your own. But it is enough.