“Enough, already!”

“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16

Picture this—the twelve disciples had just returned from deployment. Jesus sent them out two-by-two and they were returning to Him and giving their “after-action reports.” Mark writes in Chapter 6, verse 30-31: “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

We all have so much going on in our lives that sometimes we don’t even have a chance to eat, much less to rest—whether deployed or at home! Some of the demands that we may feel during these current pressure-packed days are:

— deployments…getting ready, going, long separations, returning;
— working harder on the job to fill the gap while others are deployed;
— keeping up with life at home as a “single” parent while your spouse is deployed;
— trying to make the financial ends meet in your budgets at home and at work;
— caring for aging parents while trying to meet your children’s needs;
— moving to a new assignment…selling a house in a difficult market, buying a house, finding the right schools, finding a new job, and on and on…

It makes a person want to shout, “Enough, already!”

And the good news is that He is enough. . .already, for you!

Do you need to hear that? I do. I need to know that. And I need to remember that.

How is our God enough? Consider these three ways:

His supply is enough for you! We read in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Pondering this point is such a great opportunity to think back over the times our Lord has provided for us—sometimes in amazing, miraculous ways and sometimes through a simple kindness from a friend…but always in just the way He knew we needed. The Hebrew people experienced what may be the biggest deployment of all times when they left Egypt in search of the Promised Land. During that 40-year journey the Lord provided manna for them in the desert. Make this great promise in the book of Isaiah your own: “The LORD will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.” (Isaiah 58:11) Tell Him your needs. He has resources enough for you!

His power is enough for you! Do you ever feel inadequate? I hope so! Even though that realization can lead you to despair—with the right response it can lead to repair. It’s when we realize we need God’s strength that we call on Him for His help. Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus: “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19a). That power, God’s power, is resurrection power, and I know I need that power working in me. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

In 2 Corinthians 1:8-11a we are reminded that during some of the Paul’s toughest times he knew that God was enough: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.” Tough times can help us recognize our dependence on God and bring us to our knees in humility. We call out to God for His strength and His help and find His power is more than enough!

His grace is enough for you! In struggling with some painful issue, Paul discovered a wonderful truth: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) The enemy would have us believe we are unworthy, beyond redemption, and too weak to stand. But, the truth is His grace is enough for you! “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4) The price Jesus paid on the cross was payment enough for all my sin and your sin. It is enough to transform us from dead souls walking to men and women who are alive with hope!

Hallelujah! He is enough!

I love an old hymn I learned as a child, “Room at the Cross for You”:

“The cross upon which Jesus died is a shelter in which we can hide;
And its grace so free is sufficient for me, and deep is its fountain as wide as the sea.
There’s room at the cross for you, There’s room at the cross for you;
Tho’ millions have come, there’s still room for one—

Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.”

Chris Tomlin said it this way in his song, “Enough”:

“All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough.”

When you want to scream out “Enough, already!” know that you can claim the truth in Hebrews 4:6. You can approach God’s throne knowing that His supply, power, and grace are enough for you.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” — Psalm 62:1-2

Questions to Share:

1. Share with each other a time when you wanted to declare, “Enough, already!”

2. Share how God helped you to endure, and perhaps even come out stronger when the time of trial was over. If that time of trial is right now, during this deployment, consider what God is doing in your life to help you to persevere.