Is God Really Enough?

I know my blog has been pretty quiet over the last few weeks as I have been out of town for the better part of a month now. It really has been an amazing month with such sweet time with my sisters and then a wonderful vacation with my hubby and kiddos to Disney for an awesome reunion with our China family! Though my blog has been quiet, that doesn’t mean that God hasn’t been teaching me quite a few things, to say the least. If I had a computer keyboard hooked up to my heart I think I could have written a novel with all the truths he is showing me from his Word. Lol! Upon our arrival home from vacation, I got the word that my dear cousin, Lea Ellen had gone on to be with Jesus. I spent the next couple of days celebrating her life with our family in Virginia and was reminded of how precious life really is. Through her 42 years on this earth, physically she endured so much. Never being able to walk and run and do the many things that we take for granted every day, but to think that she is up in heaven with my Jesus running and dancing brings such a smile to my face. I praise God that she is healed and whole right now and I look forward to the day that I will see her again!

Over the last month of jet-setting and family fun time, God continued to teach me valuable lessons. My prayer will always be to remain teachable so that through any and every circumstance I “get” exactly what he wants me to see to ensure that my strength and dependence remains in him and him alone! Over time, I will Lord willing, share with you many of the special moments that have taken place during this last month. I don’t want to forget any of them so I love to journal as a way to keep them embedded in my heart and mind.

One thing that God kept bringing to my heart over the last few weeks is the question, “Am I really enough for you?” I won’t go into all the details of why this question kept coming up, but I will say that this last year has been a time of real growing in my faith in a lot of different areas. God has been doing a work in my life and my faith has been tested. This question when you first look at it is easy to answer. “Well, of course God, you are enough for me.” But when times of trial emerge, can we still answer with all certainty, “Yes, God, you are enough for me.” I can’t even begin to tell you how I love studying through Scripture. The pages just come alive for me like never before! His Word says,

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

That is so TRUE! His Word penetrates to the depths of my soul and I long to stay right there and continue to immerse myself deeper and deeper!

Through my Christian walk, there have been many trials come and go, and many more still to come. I thank him for his Word that is the “go-to” book for every issue that comes forth. There are many times we don’t know why we go through certain things and we just want them to end but God allows those things to happen for a reason and it is not for us to ask “why” but to stay steadfast on him for the strength to make it through. Our human natures want to figure it all out and “fix it”. That is where I am! But, oh, how my gracious Father has reminded me that he is enough for me. My hope, my trust, my faith, is in him alone and I desire to learn and grow through the trials. Now here is the hard part (yes, it gets harder! Lol!) I am going to rejoice through the trials and praise my God through it all!

James 1:2-8 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

You see; these times of trial are opportunities for us to grow toward our Father. Times to mature and grow in wisdom. Are they easy? No! Absolutely not! But praise God that he is with us through it all. In the midst of the trials are when we really have to face the question, “Is God really enough for me?” When we don’t understand and things really don’t make sense in our human eyes, is God enough for you?

There was a song we sang years ago by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir that really ministered to me. The words are a beautiful prayer to God and I find myself singing this to my Lord even now. I encourage you to look this song up but here are the lyrics:

Jehovah Jireh, my provider

You're more than enough for me.

Jehovah Rapha, You're my healer,

by Your stripes, I have been set free.

Jehovah Shamma, You are with me

and You supply all of my needs;

You are more than enough,

You are more than enough,

You are more than enough for me.

Dear Abba Father, your grace is sufficient for me; your power is made perfect in my weakness. I thank you for your never-ending love and your comfort during the times we don’t understand. You never promised that this life would be easy but you did promise that you would never leave us nor forsake us and that you would give us everything we need to make it through. I thank you for the trials, I thank you for Word, I thank you for your sweet fellowship through prayer, and I thank you for your comforting presence! Lord, you are good and your mercy endures forever! No matter what comes my way, I praise you and I say with confidence to you my precious Savior, that YOU are enough for me!