The trail you guide me down
Is life and life and more life.
When I’m with you,
My joy is complete.
I don’t need to pursue happiness,
Because you have everything I’d ever want,
And you give it generously —
Forever.
(Everyday Psalms, Psalm 16, page 30)
“I am enough.”
It’s a popular phrase these days. It expresses the belief that in a world of professionals who make us seem inept and filtered photos that make us feel ugly and leading empty lives, we actually have everything we need to live life well. Against this bombardment by culture, such a saying is an important act of resistance. We don’t need to be like the celebrities we’re taught to envy. We are enough as we are, as God created us.
But the saying is actually quite false. In myself, I am not enough and don’t have enough. I need more. This is why I get education, use health care, earn an income from my job, engage in relationships, and come to God for salvation. I have real needs. I am not self-sufficient. There is more to this life than I can drum up for myself.
I need God and I need what God can give.
And so I come to God with empty hands out-stretched. I’m a beggar.
But what’s so great about God is he’s a giver. And he’s not a skimpy, penny-pinching giver. He’s an astonishingly generous giver. He’s the Giver. And grace is Gift.
All I am and have is Gift. I didn’t save up money to buy my birth. I entered into this world by no effort or merit or reputation or prior deal. And every breath I’ve breathed since that first wailing cry has been Gift. My body. My mind. My soul. My entire story, with all of the people and opportunities and places. It’s all Gift. There are no self-made men or women.
My primary identity then is as one who receives God’s good gifts. As such, out of the humility of one who can make no claims on God, who can require nothing of him, I ask for more. Because as much as I have already received, I still need more from his hand.
It would be easy for me to think, “I’ve already received so much from God, it’s probably time I quit being such a needy nuisance and get busy taking care of my needs on my own.” In fact, I often do just that. But it totally misses the point and always comes up short in the end.
God isn’t bothered by our requests. The one who has given so much already isn’t tapped out or annoyed by requests for more. No. His generosity knows no bounds. The fact that we’ve received so much in the past should be a hint to the parallel fact that he’s not going to stop doing so in the future.
Are there things I ask for that I don’t get? Absolutely. And sometimes the not-receiving of things I deem essential — like the healing of a loved one — seems to negate the generosity and goodness of God. But these are the exceptions and not the rule. The surprise of denied requests highlights the overwhelming consistency and abundance of granted requests. I may not understand why I haven’t received something I’ve prayed for and maybe I never will understand during this mortal life, but I do know this one thing: God is good and generous and he loves to give gifts to his children, including me.
Prayer: I am immersed in your generosity, God. I am surrounded by goodness and beauty and truth. Grace is everywhere. So out of the love that fires your generosity, hear my requests. Know my need and act quickly. For all the gifts you have already given and for the ones yet to be received, I give you my deepest thanks. In Jesus. Amen.