“Good enough” doesn’t always work when we are doing something for God. In the Old Testament God turned a cold shoulder away from blemished lambs given as sacrifices.
He didn’t want liming animals or leftover grain. He wanted the first and best.
He still wants our first and best. Recall the parable that Jesus told about the man who hid his talents (Matthew 25).
But consider a reversal here, with different results. We can’t get away with giving God our good enough, but he can (and does) get away with that for us.
When God says “good enough” in answering a prayer, then it is both good and enough. When God says “good enough” in providing you with a home or career or closets of clothes that don’t quite meet the standards of everyone else, it is both good and enough.
Can you accept that? Are you willing to receive some from God, when your desires and dreams are all? Could you consider by faith that God has something better planned for you?
That’s being content. It’s the secret to joy and peace.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12,13).
Every blessing from God, whatever its quantity, is always full quality. Why? Because he’s perfectly wise, perfectly loving, and he’s perfectly capable of knowing exactly what you need.
PRAYER: Dear gracious God, you don’t give me everything I want, and I’m thankful for that. Because I want some things that aren’t good for me. You know that, and provide exactly everything I need. Save me from myself today, and teach me to be content in you. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Slow down, use the PRAY acronym today.
- Praise (tell God what you appreciate about his gifts and blessings, especially the ones that don’t seem complete)
- Repent (tell God about your discontent desires and greed, trust in his promises of forgiveness, and rejoice in believing that he is your all, that Jesus is everything you need, and then let the rest of it fall into place)
- Ask (for contentment and character more than things or circumstances)
- Yield (talk to God about the next step after you say “Amen,” how you want faith to lead the way, how you are willing to be part of his answer and see it develop for your good)