What do you do when can’t do anymore? When you don't have any more? The death of a loved one, sickness and disease, divorce, the loss of a job, and other challenges can demand more than you ever imagined. Moving forward may require all that you have; and probably more. Thankfully, you have access to all you need...and more!
I heard the song, “Jireh” by Elevation Worship & Maverick City, this week for the first time. The vocals and harmonies, the musicality, and the message spoke to me. All of the lyrics are amazing, but the chorus captures the main point.
Jireh, You are enough
Jireh, You are enough
I will be content
In every circumstance
'Cause Jireh, You are enough
Forever enough
Always enough
More than enough
Jireh is one of the names for God found in the Bible. It means, “the Lord provides.” As I listened and sang along, God’s Holy Spirit stirred my soul, reminding me of God’s faithfulness in providing all that I’ve ever needed. It strengthened my faith in his ongoing provision. I worshipped God and gave him thanks and praise.
I like how close the sound of Jireh is to Gira. They seem to rhyme. I could hear in the song, “Gira, you are enough,” which I found affirming. Like everyone, I sometimes doubt myself. I also could hear God saying, "Gira, I'm enough for you!"
In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son. It’s a shocking request, one totally opposed to God’s heart. Yet Abraham precedes, preparing to do as instructed. On the way, His son asks where the lamb is that they will sacrifice. Abraham answers, “'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8).
When Abraham puts his hand on the knife, the Lord tells him to stop. It turns out to be a test to see if Abraham fully feared God, revering and trusting him fully, and would hold back nothing. After passing the awful test, God blesses him. Abraham looks and sees the ram faithfully provided by God to be sacrificed.
“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided’" (Genesis 22:14).
Whatever you’re going through, even a truly terrible test, you can trust God to provide what you need. Strength and courage, money and resources, determination and abilities, faith and hope, truth and understanding, vision and purpose, friendship, and community, hope and healing… "For God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Jesus taught his disciples to trust God’s provision and not worry (Matthew 6:26-34). God faithfully feeds and shelter the birds. God beautifully clothes the lilies and flowers. God watches over the sparrow. You are worth more than all of these, and he loves you enough to give you Jesus. You can count on him to provide for all your needs.
God can provide anything, but Jesus is the best thing God can give you. For God so loved the world he gave us Jesus, who provides forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in him. He gives us the Holy Spirit, new birth and life as children of God. He’s the bread of life; those who believe in him will never hunger for anything (John 6:35).
Jesus is “the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Whatever I’m going through, I can say with St. Paul, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). We can be confident he will give us everything else we need, too.
During “Jireh” one of the worship leaders appears to spontaneously sing, “When I have Jesus, I have everything.” His few words say everything. Jesus is the one and only way to always have all that you need and more than enough.
In my book, How Cancer Cured Me, I include a chapter all about “Provision.” I share important scripture promises, stories of how God has provided for me, and how trusting him impacted by cancer experience. Click here to read an excerpt from that chapter.
The following links are to three amazing songs about God’s faithful provision. Listen and worship our awesome and unbelievably generous God. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Please leave a comment below to let me know what you think. How has God provided for you? Where are you praying for his provision? I'd love to hear from you! God bless you!
コメント