All That I Need

I’m a laid-back, stressed person.

I’m laid back when it comes to my kids’ choice of clothing, last minute playdates, and eating food off the floor.

I’ve learned how to avoid eye contact with my dirty toilet as though it doesn’t exist, and I’m even starting to make peace with my children’s version of decorating my house.  Mostly.

But in other ways I’m a mess of stress.  I’m stressed by my diabetes and ever changing insurance issues.  I’m stressed by writing deadlines, even when I imposed them on myself.  I’m stressed by trying to figure out how to parent three children whose needs are so different.  I’m stressed by making decisions, telling people “no,” and asking for small bills at the bank.  (Why that makes me more nervous than going days without a shower, I couldn’t tell you.)

The funny thing is, your list of stressors might be completely different than mine.  At the end of the day, we aren’t simply stressed by what’s out of our control, because hardly anything really is.  We’re stressed by the out of control situations that weigh the most to us- that threaten our significance, erode our security, and attack our self-sufficiency.

I’m stressed when I feel that I lack wisdom, resources, time, energy and ability….when I’m not “enough” to tackle my obstacles and achieve my goals.

But God has been reminding me that I was never meant to be sufficient in and of myself.  Everywhere that I see an absence, He offers me His abundance.  He is enough, and He offers me enough.  If I ever doubt that, there are more than a few verses waiting to confront my fears:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” (Psalm 23:1)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (1 Corinthians 12:9)

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 7:8)

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.'” (Luke 15:31)

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”  (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…'” (Isaiah 30:15)

Just over a week ago I was sitting with God at church as everyone worshipped, and the songs were speaking the same truth to me as well.  And as I swam in that music soul space, I felt like God was encouraging me to address every worry and problem I face by telling myself, “I have all that I need.”

When I wake up in the morning…”I have all that I need.”

When I don’t know how to parent, through God “I have all that I need.”

When I’m afraid because of legitimate medical concerns, even so, “I have all that I need.”

When I’m stressing over deadlines and meeting expectations, “I have all that I need” to accomplish what God has planned for me.

It’s not that I’ll never go without what I THINK I need.  I might not get my supplies from my insurance in the manner I want.  I certainly won’t get through life unscathed, problem or failure free.  I’m definitely going to miss deadlines, let my kids down, and fall apart.

But in the end, if God is what I truly need, and He sustains me for His purposes, then I don’t have to worry because in this moment I have access to all the grace and hope and love that I need.  And I don’t have to do a thing to control that.

So I can get back to ignoring my toilet.

Here are two of the songs that spoke to me recently.  I encourage you to listen and reflect on what God is asking you to trust Him for this week.  What might He be asking you to place in His hands?  Where might you need to begin speaking the truth over yourself that you have all that you need in Him?

New International Version (NIV)
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