We’re going to play a game. Fill in the blank below with the first word that comes to your mind:

There’s not enough ________________ in my life.

What word popped out?

For me, it’s “time.” There’s never enough time. 

Maybe your word is “money.” Or “support.” Or “patience.” Or even “purpose.”

We’re all scarce on something, and that lack—we feel it each and every day. It pains us. It worries us. It weighs us down.

How do we fix it?

Well, logically, we go out and get more somehow, by whatever means. 

• Not enough time? Hire help. Or plan better.
• Not enough money? Spend less. Earn more.
• Not enough purpose? Join a cause. Volunteer.

Hm, this seems good. We’re taking action. Being responsible. And it works! We get more. Awesome. But, hmm, let’s say…

• Let’s say you get more time than you had before. But you’re still not getting anything done.
• Let’s say you get more money than you had before. But your financial troubles haven’t ended.
• Let’s say you add more purpose to your life. But it doesn’t fulfill you like you thought it would.

What then? 

I’m reminded of a time in Jesus’s life when He faced a situation when there wasn’t enough.

He was preaching to thousands of people—He’d been at it all day—and it was dinnertime. The crowd was hungry, but there was no food to give them. 

Well, there WAS a little food…five loaves and two fishes. But it wasn’t enough. Not by a long shot.

What was my Savior’s response to this situation of “not enough”?

He could’ve told his disciples to go get food and bring it back. Or, he could’ve told the crowd to go and grab some dinner on their own. But, no. Everything they needed was right there. Already there. Nobody had to go anywhere or get anything more than what they already had.  

Here’s what Jesus did: 

“And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” (Matt. 14:19)

How do we fill the emptiness? Fix the lack?

Bring what is “not enough” to the Father in the name of Jesus. Then, we copy what Jesus did. He blessed. Jesus gave thanks for the tiny meal—the fish and bread that were not enough. Nowhere near enough. He THANKED God for what they DID have. 

And then the miracle happened—it WAS enough. 

Have you ever looked around you and said, arms flying in frustration, it’s just not enough!?!?

Not enough hours in the day! Not enough money in the account! Not enough patience for that kid! Not enough appreciation for everything I do!

Then, THEN, we wake up and put on the glasses of gratitude. We thank God for what we DO have, all the blessings we’ve already received, all the prayers answered, all the needs met. 

And, miraculously, it IS enough. Life is enough. Jesus, here with us in this moment, is sufficient. We don’t have to run out and get more of something. Everything we have, everything we need, is right here. Jesus is here, and He is enough.

Time may still be scarce. Money tight. Body sick. Patience thin. But, incredibly, we are filled. Filled up with thanksgiving.

Have you ever had something like this happen to you? Click the blue reply button, and tell us about it in your own words.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.