All sufficiency in all things

By Cathy Bayert

Enough!  I have HAD it!  NO more!!

A poster in the 1970s showed a rope dangling from the top, a knot tied in the bottom end and tiny kitten clinging to it for dear life.  When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!

Scripture tells us sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:34). Every day has plenty of tough circumstances.  Take a deep breath and rest through the night (Psalm 127:2 and Matthew 11:28-30) because tomorrow’s coming with another boatload. 

I find myself telling the Lord there’s no way I can handle all this! And he tells me, you’re right!  Without me, you can do nothing (John 15:5) but you can do all things through Christ (me) who strengthens you!  (Philippians 4:13)

As a child, I began to eagerly look forward to Christmas even as the decorations were being taken down and put away.  How long ‘til Christmas, Daddy?  He would reply with the heaviness of experience, “The older you get the faster it comes.”

Unfortunately, I find that to be true of unfortunate circumstances and hardships of life as well. The older I get, the faster they come and I may not finish the battle before the next skirmish begins.

But I find God’s word true. Whatever the circumstances, His grace is sufficient (enough) for me.  His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  So I can give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 6:18) because when it seems like there are more enemies with formidable physical weapons, I find myself calming my spirit with the words of scripture:   my weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4) and when I look into the spiritual realm  with eyes trained in the word of God like Elijah’s servant Gehazi I see more angelic hosts  fighting for me (2 Kings 6:16) than can be mustered by the enemy of my soul!  (Revelation 12:4) Greater is he who is in me than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4). My enemy is routed by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11) which is Jesus (the Word of God made flesh) saves!  He is my strong tower, my very present help in times of trouble (Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 46:1) and His spirit bubbles up in my innermost being (John 4:14) offering praise for the joy of the Lord is my strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

My heart rejoices when I remember (Psalm 23):  My cup runs over! I serve a God who is MORE than enough!

So the circumstances may be boiling all around me like the Sea of Galilee but Christ speaks peace be still (Mark 4:39) as I cast all my cares over on him because he cares for me (2 Peter 6:7) and when I with thanksgiving let my requests be made known to him, his peace which passes all understanding keeps and protects my heart (keep or guard  your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23)) and mind through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:6-7)

Let not YOUR heart be troubled today.  You believe in God, believe also in the anointed Word of God made flesh in YOU!  John 14:1

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)