Is Enough Enough?

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

 

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4: 11-13

 

Is Enough Enough?

 

Are you happy with what God provides or do you find yourself constantly wanting more?  In studying the Lord’s Prayer, we know Jesus modeled for us to ask God for our daily bread, which refers to basic needs such as food, and also to our spiritual, emotional, and mental needs. God does provide the daily bread we need for our bodies, heart, and mind, but often we think we need something more. Instead of letting God be enough for our emotional needs we reject his provision and begin to look to other people and things that we think can meet our needs. Eventually we find out that the earthly abundance we think we need is empty. 

 

Paul knew what it meant to have riches, and what it meant to be in need. He had been both wealthy and financially in need and he learned that true contentment does not come from earthly abundance. He knew that true contentment comes from the abundant life we have as believers in a growing relationship with Jesus.

 

Not only did Paul understand what contentment was, but he wrote the verses above from prison. He was probably in the worst circumstances of his whole life and yet he could say that he learned the secret of being content – the strength of Christ. He speaks to his ability to be content in all things through the strength of Christ. 

 

In today’s world it is a struggle to not constantly want more. Social media is a nightmare for anyone trying to be content with what they have. We are constantly bombarded with ads and influencers trying on beautiful clothes, shoes, skincare products, fitness plans, nutritional products, life coaches, etc… The struggle is overwhelming to not be tempted to think that your life is lacking and there is something else you can get to make it better. The truth is that most of the time it only creates more lack in our hearts. 

 

We can learn to be content like Paul if we press into Jesus instead of the world. Spiritual maturity is being content with what a sovereign God gives and knowing that he knows what we need and provides for those needs. He gives us our “daily bread” with intention, love, wisdom and sufficiency.  In a world that constantly wants us to want more , choosing contentment in Christ is believing that what I have is enough because it is from God. This doesn’t mean we ignore our desires or needs, but we surrender them to a God who sees the full picture when we can only see a part. He wants us to have the desires of our heart – the good ones that honor him. 

 

True contentment is found in Christ—not in circumstances, things, or even people. It’s the deep assurance that God will provide for us. This contentment stirs gratitude, opening our eyes to the blessings he has given — our daily bread, relationships, the breath in our lungs, and the mercy that meets us every morning.

 

At some point we have to decide if Jesus is enough. Is he enough for our satisfaction? Is it enough that our needs are met and we have daily bread? Will we let him satisfy the longings of our heart? If you have not asked yourself this question, I challenge you to ask it now. Until you let Jesus be everything, you will never be fulfilled or satisfied. You will continually feel the void and seek to fill it with something. 

Everything I Need

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing… Psalm 23:1

 

Psalm 23 is a familiar Psalm to many. It talks about how Jesus is our Good Shepherd. 

Shepherds have a very important job.  Sheep are completely defenseless in the face of an attack.  They have no sharp teeth or claws, and they certainly cannot outrun a predator, so when a wolf comes after them, they are going to lose.  They are totally dependent on the shepherd to protect and lead them.  He watches for danger and uses the crook of his staff to pull them back into the fold when they start to wander outside the bounds of protection. He provides for their every need from food and water to protection. The sheep know their shepherd, and they will listen to the shepherd and follow where the shepherd leads.   

 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. When we become his, he is our Shepherd, and we lack absolutely nothing. There is nothing that we need or want that he cannot provide. The beautiful thing about this shepherd is that he doesn’t just give us everything we need, he is everything we need. If we are hungry, he is the Bread of Life. If we are thirsty, he is the Living Water. If we are in the dark, he is the Light of the World. If we are lost, he is the Way. If we need it, he has it. If he doesn’t have it, we don’t need it. 

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:2-6

 

We have a Shepherd - a Savior - who gives us all good things. He meets all our needs, but he also meets all our wants if we let him. We may try to get our wants fulfilled in other places, but we never will be able to find that satisfaction anywhere else. He provides us with the rest we need because we can rest IN him when we cannot find rest anywhere else. We will only find green pastures in him. 

 

He gives us the peace we yearn for because he is our still waters in a rushing world chaos and disorder. He restores our soul. When he restores us, he doesn’t just restore in part, he restores our whole being. The shepherd knows there must be a restoration for our journey in life and provides that opportunity. He provides the peace and restoration we need.

 

When we wander from Jesus, who gives us everything we need, we will find nothing we need. We lack nothing in him but without him, we lack everything. When we stray from him, we cannot find our way back without his grace. In his marvelous grace, he makes us alive in him and restores our soul.   

He leads us on paths of righteousness. Our paths in life are determined by our destination. When we have a relationship with God, his glory should be our goal – our destination.  So whatever path he puts us on, the destination is his glory and our good.  It is through Gods restoration of grace that he leads us to the right paths. His grace restores us, puts us on the right path, keeps us on the right path, sustains us, and strengthens us. In the darkest valleys he comforts us.

 

How have you felt the presence of your Good Shepherd in your life, meeting all your needs?