More than Enough

I have always struggled in the area of self-sufficiency. I know in my heart I need the Lord but sometimes I find that I still rely too much on myself. One day in my Bible reading, I ran across this verse in Hosea and it deeply convicted me.

Hosea 13:6 (NIV) says, “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot Me.”

How true this is! When life is good; when we are satisfied; when our bank account is healthy; when we feel like we can take care of ourselves…we can forget our deep dependence upon the Lord!

As I read this verse, I was reminded of an area of struggle in my own life. I felt the Lord whisper to me, “Have you ever thanked me for this? It is the ‘thing’ I am using to keep you completely dependent upon Me.”

Thank Him? Are you kidding me? I felt it was an honorable thing that I accepted this particular circumstance in my life….but thank Him for it? This was a new perspective and something I had to wrestle with for a while. It didn’t come easily, but eventually I got down on my knees and through tears of surrender, I thanked the Lord for allowing this difficulty in my life, because I know it is the thing that keeps me in a place of deep dependence on Him.

I have friends who are going through some very deep waters right now. The circumstances of their lives seem overwhelming. Without the Lord, I’m certain they would despair. But I have also seen these amazing women find an intimacy with the Lord that does not come any other way. They have a depth to their relationship with Him that others only desire. They are aware of their need for the Lord each and every day simply to survive ~ so they search for Him with all their might and they find Him to be more than enough.

Do you have an area of ongoing struggle in your life? A health issue? Financial stress? A difficult marriage? A prodigal child? Have you ever thanked the Lord for it? Not just accepted it…but thanked Him for how He is using it in your life to cause you to cling to Him? As you do, you will find yourself with a whole new perspective on life and you will find the Lord to be more than enough.