Enough is Enough is Enough
This is enough.
Even if this is all there is, it is enough.
Even if winter were the only season.
Even if every meal was a pack of cheap Ramen.
Even if there was no bed to sleep in.
Even if getting married isn’t part of the story.
Even if that book is never published.
Even if returning to Africa is never more than a dream.
Even if…(fill in your own unmet desire).
What you have right now, it is enough.
Do you believe that?
It’s hard to say out loud, and even harder to truly believe. Our hearts and our minds betray us, running wildly off the leash if we let them. Loudly they yell, trying to convince us we will finally be content when we get that promotion, buy our first home, or own a KitchenAid Mixer as if somehow working more, being a homeowner, or baking scones will solve our every problem.
Finally content when…
But then something else comes along, and before we know it, we are thinking, “If I could just have that, be that, do that, well then, I would be content.” An age-old story of humans trying to fill a God-sized hole with anything but Him, which is why nothing seems to fill it up quite right (not even a warm, freshly-baked cinnamon scone lovingly crafted using a KitchenAid Mixer, shocking as that may be). Since scones simply won’t get it done in this department, let’s take a trip to one of my favorite books, Ephesians, for a tiny slice of freshly-baked truth. Here’s what Paul reminds us of in the first few chapters:
“God…has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (1:3).
“In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship” (1:5).
“In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (1:7).
“In him, we were also chosen” (1:11).
“In him, we are saved by grace, through faith” (1:8).
“[He] made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgression” (1:5)
“[God created us] in Christ Jesus to do good works, which [he] prepared in advance for us to do” (2:10).
“He himself is our peace” (2:14).
Blessing, love, home, redemption, forgiveness, hope, purpose, grace, peace - all available to all of us all of the time, our joyful birthright. We certainly don’t deserve it, but it is freely given to us by a God who loves us, and that, my friend, is certainly enough.
However, please hear this, too - it is still okay to hope for more in this life because God calls you to hope. In fact, in Ephesians 1:18-19, Paul prays “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Understanding “enough” doesn’t mean you stop dreaming or desiring, it means you are content where you are while also trusting that your God is “able to do immeasurably more than all [you] ask or imagine according to his power that is at work in [you]” (Ephesians 3:20). A classic “both-and” situation: God, I am joyful right where I am because I am with you, but I also am praying for this miracle because I believe you have put this desire in my heart, and I know you you are able.
Like many things in life, it’s an art, not a science, but this week, my prayer for you is that you can discover a new balance between enough and hope. May you make intentional brush strokes towards the art of contended expectancy, and may each step be filled with resounding gratitude, no matter where you are headed and no matter where you end up, remembering that Jesus is enough, and so are you.
PS - As I was finishing this blog, I noticed a song twirling about in my mind (Jireh by the Mavs + Elevation), so I will leave you with a bonus today - a few of the words that have been on a loop for me, an anthem to carry you through the day.
I’m already loved.
I’m already chosen.
I know who I am.
I know what you’ve spoken.
I’m already loved more than I can imagine.
That is enough.
You are enough, so I am enough.
I will be content in every circumstance.
Jireh, you are enough.
