He Is Enough

Yesterday was a really difficult day. Stressful. Tiring. Frustrating. Just plain hard. And if I’m being completely honest, I wanted to quit on it numerous times.

I wanted to simply throw my hands up in the air in defeat, along with anything in my hands at that particular moment.

I wanted to lay down on the ground and cry, or possibly kick my feet and yell.

I wanted to give up. Go home. Go to sleep. Wake up the next day and see everything miraculously put right and nothing amiss, the sun shining, my favourite clouds decorating the sky, a cool breeze blowing, birds singing and a spring in my step.

I struggled to do what needed to be done in regard to my thoughts:

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Controlling our thoughts is often one of the hardest things we can do. Our minds are very powerful things. And what we think about determines how we feel, how we act and how we respond to the situations in our lives.

I am an overthinker and have a bad habit of spiralling once I allow my thoughts to go to places they shouldn’t be. Then the overwhelm begins and the clouds grow darker, the anxiety sets in and the dark descent into worry forms a tornado that threatens to pull me into its vortex.

But praise God, I don’t have to stay there. I can make a choice to take my thoughts captive, rise up and call out to God, knowing that he will listen.

No matter where I am or what I’m doing, prayer is something I can do eyes closed, or eyes open, noise or no noise.

And so, by the grace of God, and after a lot of short arrow prayers, and cries for help, I made it through my day. From fear to faith.

As I sat praying with a friend at our weekly prayer meeting that evening, I was reminded of my need, once again, to praise God and to thank him for his continual blessings. Seen and unseen.

Psalm 145:3  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

I realised that despite my day being so difficult, a lot of things that could have gone wrong, didn’t go wrong.

So many situations could have gone a lot worse.

There were many incidences where an accident with disastrous consequences could have occurred but didn’t.

There were periods of waiting that gave me time to read a few verses, listen to the words of a song, mull over a passage of writing that encouraged my heart and allowed me to catch my breath.

I began to realise that I needed to thank God for the strength to lift those heavy gates off and on the truck many times, that so often cause me grief. There are many who don’t have the ability to even raise tired arms above their heads because of illness.

I needed to thank him for the ability and know how to operate the machinery and drive a truck and negotiate tight spaces with a heavy vehicle.

I needed to thank him for my sight. My strength. My legs. My arms. My voice.

All these things allow me to do my job, and while I sit and whinge and bemoan my heavy workload, there are many who hope and pray that they too could be physically able to cope with a hard day’s work.

How many blessings do I overlook and let pass by, without giving a thought to and without lifting my voice in praise to God?

I am ashamed to say that all too often I waste my thoughts on what I see as the negative and neglect to train my thoughts to think of my blessings. To think good thoughts.

We are reminded in the book of Philippians of what to think on.

Philippians 4:8 KJV - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I am also reminded of something that Paul was able to come to terms with. And that is the fact that God’s grace is sufficient.

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV - And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God’s grace is enough. God gives enough grace for each and every day. Not more. Not less. Enough. Sufficient.

God’s abundant grace, his loving-kindness and favour, is enough. And it is overflowing. His grace never runs out.

And just when we need more grace, and we go to him in distress, with our questions and our hurt, he pours out his grace once again.

When we are weak, God’s strength is all the more evident. Our weakness just shows off his power even more vividly.

By focusing on the sufficient grace of God, we can face the future with confidence. We are able to gain strength to withstand whatever challenges we are faced with.

And although we may feel as if we can’t go on another step, God’s grace allows us to put one foot in front of the other and step out in faith, trusting that he will give whatever is needed. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

So, if you’re struggling to make it through your days, and you despair of ever having a day without trouble, just remember that God will give you the strength you need.

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If you seek him, you’ll find him. If you ask, you will receive.

If you need peace, if you need freedom from anxiety, if you need strength, if you need wisdom, God is able to grant it.

Just STOP. Still your heart and soul and cry out to him. Come to him humbly, in faith, and ask for his all-sufficient grace.

And keep on asking. Keep on seeking. Keep on knocking.

You know as well as I do, that we face struggles on a daily basis, and we fail often when it comes to faith and believing that God will do what he says he will do. And so, we have to come to him continually, repenting of our disbelief and ask once again.

He longs for us to cry out to him, and he desires to answer. He wants to give us what we need.

He doesn’t only desire to give us our physical needs, he wants to meet our emotional needs as well. I am so glad that God is able to meet my deepest needs. The ones that I can’t explain in words, the ones that overwhelm me, the ones that no one else can understand.

He is the only one that can fully meet our every need.

His grace is everlasting.

His mercy is unending.

His love is unconditional.

His faithfulness is new every morning.

Let Jesus carry your burdens. Let Jesus heal the hurts. Let Jesus meet those emotional needs that you can’t find words to express.

Bring them to him in faith and trust.

He can meet you where you are with just what you need exactly when you need it.

 

He is enough

I Will Carry You – E. Holcomb

I know you're tired, I see it in your eyes
All that anxiety that rules your mind
I’ll be your shield when you don't feel like you've got strength enough to fight
I’ll stand by your side

I will carry you
Through your darkest night
When you're terrified
I will carry you
When the waters rise
When your hope runs dry
I will carry you

You are not the sum of your mistakes
You don't have to hide the parts of you that ache
I choose you as you are a million times 'cause I am not ashamed of you
I won't walk away from you

I will carry you
Through your darkest night
When you're terrified
I will carry you
When the waters rise
When your hope runs dry
I will carry you

Up and over the mountains
Valley deep as the ocean
When you can't keep going
I will shoulder your burdens
Up and over the mountains
Valley deep as the ocean
When you can't keep going
I will shoulder your burdens

I will carry you
Through your darkest night
When you’re terrified
I will carry you
When the waters rise
When your hope runs dry
I will carry you