When You Don't Have Enough | Joy For The Journey — Carol McLeod Ministries | Find Joy in Your Everyday Life
Watching my son play soccer ranks as one of my favorite weekend activities. Mama Bear gets pretty passionate on the sidelines encouraging the team and I’ve been dubbed the Team Cheerleader who rallies the other parents to chime in with me. We often bellow, “You’ve got this, boys! You can do it! Don’t give up! You know what to do!”
This all sounds well and good and everyone needs encouragement, but sometimes in life, we just “ain’t got it.” We aren’t enough.
Those areas of our lives where we need to let God be enough:
An illness we can’t cure.
A prodigal we can’t bring home.
An addict we can’t set free.
A future we cannot unfold.
A dream we cannot resurrect.
A relationship we cannot restore.
Forgiveness we cannot force.
We cannot do it and we don’t know what to do. The self-doubt sets in.
Moses proved to be one of the greatest self-doubters in the Bible. No other biblical character adamantly argues with God over their inability more than Moses. Yet, God never tried to convince Moses that he had what it took to bring His people out of Egypt. He didn’t unroll Moses’ resume offering him props as to all the reasons why he was the guy for the job. God could have. Just take a look at Moses:
Received the finest education in the ancient world learning governmental structures, the art of war, and how to lead as a prince. Understood the workings of the Egyptian royal court and their culture and religion.
Traversed the Sinai Desert for years learning the safest routes and where to get water,
Yet, God never mentioned one single attribute of either Moses’ skills, life experiences, or character. No props, just the promise of His presence.
When Moses knew he was not enough, God offered Moses three promises: “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain,” Exodus 3:12 ESV.
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The promise of His presence: God would be with Moses the whole way.
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The promise of fulfillment: God would finish His plan full circle and bring Moses right back to this very place. Not if Moses was enough, the people believed him, or he performed at a certain level. God never said, “If”. He said, “When”. Go circle that word in your Bible.
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The promise of intimacy: Moses would serve God. The word “serve” holds a variety of meanings including to worship God, or to sow seed. In other words, Moses would witness the greatness of God’s capabilities and the goodness of His character. And what Moses sowed in obedience to God’s ask of Him would result in a rich harvest when it was all said and done. (Lexham Theological Workbook, Douglas Mangum General Editor. Lexham Press, Washington: 2014)
God never asked Moses to be enough. He simply asked Moses to believe Him.
Dear one, I don’t know what you’re facing today. Maybe you wonder if you’re enough. You may have a whole sideline of cheerleaders telling you’ve got this, but inwardly you feel like you don’t. You don’t have to be enough. Let God be enough for you. He already knows the plan and will finish what He has started. Rest in His care for you today. Believe Him.
Erica’s post today is from her brand new book: Letting God Be Enough: Why Striving Keeps You Stuck and How Surrender Sets You Free from Moody Publishers. Available for pre-order now. Visit www.ericawiggenhorn.com for details on pre-order specials and to order your copy! Connect with Erica on Instagram @ericawiggenhorn
