alife: Alliance Life

The water was boiling; I added a dash of salt and reached for the box. Not enough! “Who put the box away with less than a half cup of oats?” I called.

You may have experienced a similar situation in other areas of your life. Not enough energy, not enough patience, not enough time. I have faced this dilemma in many more instances than I care to recall. What do you do when you don’t have enough?

Moses felt he wasn’t eloquent enough to speak to Pharaoh. The widow did not feel she would have enough food to feed the prophet Elijah as well as her son and herself. Martha felt she didn’t have enough help when preparing to receive honored guests and the disciples felt they did not have enough food to feed the more than 5,000 people who came to hear Jesus. Yet in each of these situations, we see our God become more than enough to meet each need.

God didn’t call Moses because he was articulate, nor did He send Elijah to the widow because she was a good cook. Christ didn’t visit Martha so she could show off her culinary and hospitality skills and He didn’t have the disciples seat the crowds in groups of 50 so He would have an accurate count of who didn’t get fed. In each situation we see need and response.

We must understand that God works through us not because of our abundant resources but in the mist of our lack. One tool that the enemy continually uses against the children of God is the feeling of inadequacy: “I can’t pray.” “I can’t work with the Sunday school.” “I can’t sing.” “I can’t join the Bible study.” We have become the “I can’t” generation.

When I go to the cupboard and find there is no sugar, I don’t go without. I don’t adjust my meals to accommodate the lack of sugar. I go to the store. What do you do when you are in spiritual need? Go to the source, the storehouse of God. He’s more than enough.

In 2 Chronicles 20 is the story of a king who didn’t have enough. Jehoshaphat was told that Judah was about to be attacked by an army of soldiers from several different kingdoms. This great multitude was coming “from Edom, from the other side of the Sea” (v. 2). It would not have been as frightening if Jehoshaphat had enough men to ward off an assault; however, it’s obvious he didn’t.

These foreign invaders were camped out in a neighboring valley, ready to attack. What do you do when your enemy is at your door? Jehoshaphat immediately “resolved to inquire of the Lord” (v. 3). He called the people of Judah to fast and pray. I encourage you to read Jehoshaphat’s prayer in vv. 6–12. What powerful words! At the close, he said, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”

This is the key. Set your eyes on Christ. Don’t make excuses, don’t look at your situation and don’t look at your need—look at Christ. That day Jehoshaphat didn’t have to fight, for the battle was not his but the Lord’s. All he had to do was “stand firm and see the deliverance” of the Lord (v. 17). When you feel like you don’t have what it takes, seek the Lord through fasting and prayer. Then stand still and see His salvation.

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