Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest (Memorial)
Take nothing for the journey. (Luke 9:3)
Sunscreen. Diaper bag. Contingency plans. Hope. If you were to do a Google search on the phrase “Don’t leave home without it,” hundreds of millions of results will suggest what that “it” should be. And yet Jesus sent out his apostles with no money, food, or change of clothes. While that might strike us as reckless, he wanted them to learn something vital to the Christian life: God is enough. He is always enough. Nothing is inherently wrong with money, food, clothes, or other helps to life, but in the end, God is enough.
God is enough to bridge the gap between what he calls you to do and what you think you can do. His provision, as well as his love for you, rules out the objections that can whisper darkly in your thoughts: “You’re not good enough or smart enough or young enough or old enough. You don’t have enough time or freedom or compassion or skill to answer God’s call.” The apostles show that if you detect God’s leading and respond in faith, he will make up for any lack you may see in yourself.
Relying on God is a joyous collaboration, not an excuse for sitting by and waiting for him to do all the work. As you take steps in faith and reach the limit of your resources, God will provide new ideas and energy. He will rekindle passion and stir creativity. He will open doors for his children—often by the hands of other children of his. More than any material blessing, though, he will provide faith, hope, and love. He will walk beside you along the way.
God loves you. We can’t say it enough. He cares about you. He wants you to do well. He has created you for a unique purpose on this earth. So it stands to reason that he has a vested interest in helping you accomplish the very things he has created you for. He will help you grow in grace and understanding as you work with him. He will develop your gifts and talents, even as he empowers you with his own supernatural grace to serve him.
So rest assured, God is enough!
“Lord, free me from self-doubt and worry. Teach me that you are enough as I take up your call in my life.” Amen!
Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, with my cloak and tunic torn, I got up from afflicting myself, fell on my knees, spread out my hands to Adonai my God, 6 and said, “My God, I am ashamed. I blush to lift my face to you, my God! For our sins tower over our heads; our guilt reaches up to heaven. 7 Since the times of our ancestors, we have been deeply guilty; and because of our sins, we, our kings and our cohanim have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to exile, to pillage and to disgrace, as is the case today. 8 Now, for a brief moment, Adonai our God has shown us the favor of allowing a remnant to escape and giving us a secure foothold in his holy place, in order for God to make things look brighter to us and revive us a little in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not abandoned us in our slavery, but has caused the kings of Persia to extend grace to us, reviving us, so that we can rebuild the house of our God, repair its ruins, and have a wall of defense in Y’hudah and Yerushalayim.
(Psalm) Tobit 13:2 because he punishes and shows mercy.
He brings people[Tobit 13:2 Gk lacks people.] down to the underworld below the earth,
and he himself raises people
up from great destruction.
What is there that escapes
from his hand?[Tobit 13:2 DSS Heb; LXX1,2 nothing will escape his hand.]
3 Bear witness to him, Israelites,
in the presence of the nations,
because he has scattered you
among them,
4 and he has shown you
his greatness there.
Bring him honor in the presence
of everything that lives,
because he is our Lord:
he himself is our God;
he himself is our father,
and he is God forever and always.
7 My soul exalts my God,
the king of heaven,
and my soul will rejoice
all the days of my life.
8 Praise the Lord, all you chosen ones,
and let everyone
praise his greatness.
Let them speak through psalms,[Tobit 13:8 DSS Heb; OL omits line]
use your days for rejoicing,
and acknowledge him.
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