Sometimes, enough is never enough.
I sat in the tax office, holding my breath. My first time filing as single instead of head of household. My fourth year as a small business owner where I had more expenses than income.
Two hours earlier, I had told God I would be thankful regardless of what happened. Thankful for the roof over my head, the car I recently paid off, and the means to visit my daughter—whom I’d only seen twice in the past year, since she had married and moved out of state.
Yes, God. I trust You. As long as I don’t have to pay any taxes, I initially told Him. Then I boldly changed it: As long as the filing fees are paid for. I could trust God to take care of filing, couldn’t I? I could trust Him with anything, right?
When I realized both of my prayers were answered, I took it a step further. Enough to pay some bills. Put food on the table. Gas in the car. Surely God will bless these selfless needs, won’t He?
The answer came. I was getting a refund. Enough to pay myself back for the plane ticket. And also enough to pay the car registration, renew my business license, and fix a lock at the house.
He’d answered my prayers and then some. But it wasn’t enough. I selfishly wanted more. I got in my car and drove away, feeling ashamed.
I remembered the Bible verse about the man who believed Christ could heal his son and who asked Jesus to remove his doubt. I changed the words believe and unbelief to thankful and thanklessness and repeated them continually. God, I am so thankful. You hear me. You help me. Thank you.
Professing to God that you trust Him—along with asking Him to help you with that trust—is easy and possible. God will hear us, help us, and honor our attempts.
What obstacles keep you from moving closer to God? Give them to Him, and ask Him to close the gap. Then be ready to claim His blessings when He does.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit us at www.christiandevotions.us.)
Molly Jo Realy is a writer, editor, social media ninja, and producer of the weekly Firsts in Fiction podcast. She has been featured in children’s magazines and on blogs and devotional websites. Her short stories have earned her awards and scholarships from nationally acclaimed writing programs. She is the founder of New Inklings Press and author of The Unemployment Cookbook: Ideas for Feeding Families One Meal at a Time, and other books available through her website and on Amazon. Her current work in progress, NOLA, is a location mystery set in New Orleans and is scheduled for publication in late 2016. You can find her on her blog, Frankly, My Dear . . .