The God of Enough

“Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’ And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.’ So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.  And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.’” 1 Kings 17:1-9 Elijah followed God’s commands, proclaiming His word as prophets do, and going where He said to go, and his God took care of him every step. Though he had his weak moments of discouragement and fear, Elijah would learn by experience that the Lord would never ask him to do anything for which He was not enough. Repeatedly, His adequacy came forth out of lack and impossibility, and that is where it best shines. (1 Kings 17:11-16; 18:32-39)

There are many pressures, events, and messages today that by nature or intention cause fear, unrest, worry, even panic. But this is never the response dictated by our Lord. “Fear not,” “Come to Me,” He beckons. He is on our side as the perfect Advocate, His strength perfected in our weakness. What keeps us fretting in the fray rather than relying on His sufficient grace and power? Why, when He shows us again and again its futility, do we try to rely on our own smarts, strength, and success? (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 11:28; Romans 8:31-34; 2 Corinthians 12:9) When we are confronted with angry opponents, or suddenly altered plans, or a crippling diagnosis, would we turn our grip from the terrible impossible and open it to the One who makes His grace abound?  It is in these very hard circumstances that His enough is the most welcome, satisfying, and glorious, showing forth the bounty of His nature toward us. (2 Corinthians 9:8) Where has He met us in drought of spirit, dearth of energy and will, lack of vision and hope, to revive, fill, and empower? What He has done before He can and will again. He knows both present hardship and future threat, and guides us faithfully to His gracious enough every step along our way. Would we trust the ravens and poor widows He assigns to supply- the sources we may not have sought- because we trust Him, and His ample and glorious riches? (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:19) Good Father, help me never dwell on the tumult that surrounds me, nor my inadequacy to meet it and respond appropriately. Teach me to rely fully on Your great sufficiency. May Your every supply to me show forth Your greatness and love to those I encounter, so they long to know You too.