IS WHAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH?

Is it ever really enough?  How would you answer that question?

I have been struggling a lot with contentment, expectations, and gratitude lately.  I desperately want to get to that place where whatever God gives me is ENOUGH.

Enough to be satisfied. Enough to experience true joy.  Enough to live life to its fullest.

Enough to stop hustling.  Enough to stop proving.  Enough to stop worrying.

I think many of us who are blessed to live in America do not often worry about having enough to meet our basic needs.  In fact, many of us struggle with the burden of having and wanting TOO MUCH.

The ENOUGH I am talking about here does not refer to material things.  Instead, it includes intangibles like connection, love, peace, satisfaction, purpose, meaning, victory, freedom, and joy.

We can never have too much of these things, right?  Is it wrong to want more of good things?  Just a little more?  These are the questions I keep asking.

We want more in every area of lives:  more meaning in our work, more connectedness in our relationships, more fulfillment in our roles, more peace amidst our trials, more direction in our decisions, more victory over temptations, and more happiness for our children.

Well, at least I do.

Maybe this list resonates with you too.

I recently saw this bumper sticker and realized it reflects my attitude more than I care to admit:

Uh-oh.  I am not sure I want to adopt this as a life motto.

I also do not believe it is necessarily wrong to want more of good things.

But….

What if God is quietly whispering in our ears, “It’s enough.  I am enough.  Just stop.”

What if he wants us to slow down and open our eyes, ears, and hearts to what is right in front of us?  To truly embrace what is already there?

Have you ever had that maddening experience of desperately searching for something (for me it’s always my phone!) only to realize it has been with you all along?

I have torn up my house, scavenged through my car, yelled at my kids, and used the home phone to dial my cell number only to learn my phone was in my back pocket the whole time!  Not my finest moment.

Am I doing the same thing in other areas of my life?

Desperately wanting more connection and community while overlooking the ones who are walking alongside of me on the journey?

Searching for purpose and meaning while ignoring the huge impact I can have on the very people living under my own roof?

Choosing to enter into drama and conflict instead of keeping quiet, extending grace, and experiencing peace?

Ramming my head through closed door after closed door while failing to see the open window nearby?

Refusing to acknowledge that struggles and trials are the very things that build character and strengthen hope?

Okay, He has been pretty much shouting this in my ear. “Don’t you see, Carla, I am enough!”

It reminds me of a C.S. Lewis quote:

“He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.”

~C.S. Lewis

Simply put:  God is ENOUGH.

That is why I love the description of gratitude above–GRATITUDE TURNS WHAT WE HAVE INTO ENOUGH–because it shifts my focus.

Instead of assessing what I don’t have or what I want more of, I can recognize and be content with the present gifts God graciously gives each day.

Let me tell you, it is not as easy as it sounds.

It requires discipline, focus, and intentionality.

A dear friend and trusted counselor (shout out to Peg!) recently told me that it was not just enough to ignore or dismiss negative thoughts, criticism, and lies…we need to actually REPLACE them with concrete evidence, reality, and truth.

For example, when I start hearing myself say, “I am not enough…”, ” I don’t have enough…”, or even “God is not enough…” I need to stop and write down the TRUTH that cancels out that LIE.

For me, this practice always involves 3 key things:

1. STOP AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIE.
2. PRAY AND READ GOD’S WORD TO DISCOVER THE TRUTH.
3. WRITE IT DOWN.

Here are some of my “NOT ENOUGH” ramblings…

My Not Enough Lie:  I don’t have enough strength to get through this.

God’s Truth:   “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”  Philippians 4:13

My Not Enough Lie:  I don’t have enough support and I feel afraid and alone.

God’s Truth:  “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

My Not Enough Lie:  I am not enough…I do not deserve the things I want and long for.

God’s Truth: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23

So, to answer my own question:  IS WHAT I HAVE ENOUGH?

Yes, because of GRATITUDE.

Yes, because of GRACE & TRUTH.

Yes, because GOD IS ENOUGH FOR ME.

I hope you can join me during this week of giving thanks in being content with ENOUGH.