Is Jesus Really “Enough” for Me?
Can I confess something to you?
It’s not going to be pretty. I am embarrassed to admit this, but here I go:
I don’t always live like I truly believe that “Jesus is enough.” I say that I believe it. But I don’t always live those words. That sobering reality brought me to my knees recently when I was singing along to a song that blared through my car speakers.
I’ll bet you’ve heard the song, and maybe you’ve even sung it. Here’s the chorus:
“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”
As I drove along, I sang the words loudly, and I knew every word by heart.
The song played on, but I stopped singing.
Because did I really believe that? Did I really believe that God is “more than enough?”
Could I sing that song if something awful happened to the kids? If my marriage fell apart? If we filed for bankruptcy? If I lost all my friends? If I couldn’t afford the stuff I love so much? If I lost my ability to reason, or think, or speak?
Would God really be enough then?
Read the rest of this post over at incourage — (click here) — and then let us know if you’ve struggled in the same way. Some great comments coming in already! Join the conversation.
Happy This Year is Back!
Do you want to boost your happiness, by trying a few fun and enlightening exercises this spring? “Happy This Year” is back. In January, more than 2,500 people signed up to take my free challenge, and I heard so many positive responses. I didn’t want you to miss you, so I am re-opening the sign-up for a limited time. (The sign up closes in five days!)
Happy This Year is a FREE challenge, to boost your happiness is just five days. With this challenge, you’ll get lots of helpful tips, encouraging stories, & more sent to your email … direct from me!
You’ll also get FIVE adorable printables like these:
And you’ll get two-page worksheets like these. These worksheets offer short, accessible (but meaningful!) Bible lessons around the theme of happiness:
In all, you’ll get a dozen+ resources. And it’s all FREE, my gift to you.
Gather up some friends, and sign up here.
(This free offer ends Saturday, March 17, at midnight.)
A Gift Book for a Friend?
My friend Ruth Chou Simons has a gorgeous new gift book, releasing April 3. Garden of Truth is available for pre-order online. Pre-order now thru 4/2, you receive a FREE DIGITAL download of an exclusive 8×10 print from the book, when you register your order here, at GraceLaced.com/gardenoftruth.
#TellHisStory
Each week, I host an encouraging community of bloggers who are telling their stories around the web and across the world. The linkup goes live each Tuesday at 4 p.m. (CT) on my blog. If you are a blogger who loves to encourage others with stories of faith and hope, you are welcome to link up with us.
Each week, I feature one of the writers in our #TellHisStory community. Our featured writer this week is Tammy Kennington. I’m encouraged by her vulnerability in sharing this story… if you are weighed down by shame, don’t miss this post. Find Tammy here.
To be considered as our featured writer, be sure to use our badge or a link to my blog from your post. That badge can be found here. xo Jennifer
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I did read the post at incourage. I totally understand. Do we? I’ve been writing a lot and the more I am IN The Word, the more I know that He is enough. More than enough. So much more. xo
I so appreciate your faith and your witness to His goodness, Susan.
That is a question for the ages isn’t it. Do I believe Jesus is enough? As I read the rest of your post at incourage and you wondered what if… and listed things such as your kids not needing you anymore, or your husband passing before you and more, I know that life is filled with incredible losses that are not always due to death. But in each of the losses I have experienced especially the last few years, God fills the emptiness with so much more than you ever imagined. I pray that even when we can’t answer the question as easily as we would like, God is still faithful.
Oh, Jennifer. That same song has stopped me too. In. My. Singing. Tracks. Jesus confronted me with that question a few years back when I was struggling with friendships. He asked me if He was all I had, would He be enough? The shame in my heart as it squeaked out, “No,” convicted me to my core. I’ve prayed and worked through that question, but I suspect, when some of those hard seasons such as you described come into my life, I’ll have to re-affirm my yes, He is enough. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of holding to Jesus because everything else truly is slippery.
Oh, I struggle with this, too! Mostly because I get to thinking that I’m doing pretty well on my own, thank you very much. I mean, God created us to be inventive and practical, and able to do things on our own…right? Or, not so right. When I start my days with my agenda, they don’t seem to go as well.
This post has been on my mind since reading it over at (in)courage. I want to be able to speak with authenticity into the disappointments of others and to say with confidence that because of the gospel, we live expectantly on this planet even when we struggle. This paradox is the only way to a sustainable faith.
I do believe Jesus is enough. I remember when I didn’t. And even saying that now makes me feel like my words will be tested.
And what a God thing that my post this week is declaring that Jesus is more than enough to make out house a home?! Thanks for hosting and sharing, Jen!
I know He’s enough, just not sure I was sometimes.
How often do I say, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” And I think maybe that’s an okay place to be, coming again and again to Him with open hands. May He give us all strength to come with an open heart!
Bless you for hosting this link-up each week, Jennifer. So glad to be joining you this week as I reflect on redemption!
I long so much to believe fully. But the truth is that I don’t. There is so much that I don’t trust Him with, and it has nothing to do with Him. I’m so grateful that He still loves me and the messy work in progress that I am.
Thank you for opening up brave and letting us see that we are all more alike than different on this faith journey.
Holding onto this truth. He has proven Himself faithful and enough in the past. He will be faithful and enough for today and for the future. So simple and yet, we so can struggle. Grateful for the reminder!
Jennifer–I appreciate your honesty. I think we all tend to live like Jesus isn’t enough! Recently, I’ve considered that sometimes—Google is more of a God to me than Jesus! It’s a beautiful thing to be aware of that and turn once again toward Him. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for hosting!
Yes He is ENOUGH – more than ENOUGH!