The Grace of Enough - Enough For Today

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This week in the Daily Devos, we are exploring the topic of "enough," as in knowing what it means to live in ways where we acknowledge what it means to have enough and to be enough, even when we feel the sharp pangs of scarcity.  

In a culture where it seems that enough isn't part of our collective vocabulary, we need to understand more clearly what that word means for us as beloved children of God.  

Today we're going to be exploring how one of the greatest thieves of joy is living tomorrow before we've finished living today.

Far too often, our minds race ahead to next week's responsibilities, next month's uncertainties, or next year's possibilities. We worry about conversations that haven't happened, problems that haven't arrived, and outcomes we cannot predict. Before long, today's blessings disappear beneath tomorrow's fears.

I can't say enough about how this has been a part of my own journey over the years.  It takes intentionality and surrender to be present in the moment, something that many of us are unwilling to do.  

We'd rather worry and be distracted from what we are experiencing now than cede any iota of control over what happens tomorrow.  And in so doing, we miss out on a thousand different moments of joy, wonder, grace and peace.  

Henri Nouwen spoke to this plainly when he wrote: 

"When we trust deeply that tomorrow is in God's hands, we are finally free to receive today as a gift. Anxiety almost always pulls us into a future we cannot control, while gratitude gently returns us to the present moment where God is already waiting for us." 

Jesus understood this tendency well. That's why he said, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today" (Matthew 6:34).

Notice what Jesus does not promise. He does not promise that tomorrow will be easy or free from difficulty, and he does not try to gloss over today's challenges.  What he does is masterfully draw his followers to being fully present in the moment, what Fr. Richard Rohr calls the "naked now."  

The story of the manna in the wilderness illustrates this beautifully (Exodus 16:13-21). Each morning God provided enough bread for that day. Those who tried to gather extra "just in case" discovered it spoiled overnight. The lesson was never about bread alone. It was about trust.

How often do we attempt to gather emotional manna? We stockpile worries, rehearse worst-case scenarios, and carry burdens that belong to days that haven't yet arrived. In doing so, we rob ourselves of the grace God is offering today.

Faith invites us into a different rhythm.

Instead of asking, "Will I have enough for the future?" perhaps we can ask, "Has God given me enough for today?"

The answer, more often than we realize, is yes.

There is enough strength for today's challenge.

Enough grace for today's mistake.

Enough wisdom for today's decision.

Enough mercy for today's need.

Tomorrow's grace will arrive tomorrow. Today's grace is already here.

Today, receive it with open hands and open hearts.

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always. Amen.  

Today, God's provision is enough.

Prayer

Faithful God, forgive me for carrying tomorrow's burdens before tomorrow arrives. Help me to trust that you will provide what I need when I need it. Open my eyes to the gifts you have already placed before me today, and teach me to live with gratitude rather than anxiety. Give me enough faith for today, knowing that tomorrow will remain safely in your hands. Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. What future concern has been stealing your attention from the gifts of today?
  2. How does the story of the manna challenge the way you think about God's provision?
  3. What are three ways God has already provided "enough" for you today?

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