Growing up, I did not always listen to Contemporary Christian music. However, there was a song that really struck a chord with me that was written by Michael Card and John Thompson, and sung by Amy Grant in 1982, which was aptly called “El Shaddai”. El Shaddai in Hebrew means, “The All-Sufficient One.”
According to Oxford Languages, the word sufficient means, “enough, adequate.” I know that other dictionaries give more information on the definition but to me, the first definition tells us that God is more than able to fulfill all of our needs.
So often we look for people or things to make ourselves feel happy or fulfilled. Unfortunately, we can’t use people because they can be challenging. Each person that we meet has their own baggage and won’t complete us in a positive way like God will. Trust me, though, when I say that indeed there are good people out there, but none can match God and what He can do for us.
If we are looking at things to make us happy, we need to realize that while we can have all the money and fame, and luxury in the world, it can be gone tomorrow. God is who gives us what we need even here. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having money but it’s just a thing that needs to be valued by how you can help others with it not just for what you can gain from it.
When I was younger, about 30 years ago or so, I noticed that while everything in my life was going well at that time, I realized that I wasn’t very happy. There was no logical reason for why I was feeling that way until I realized that of all the things that were going on with my life, I had relegated God to the “back burner” of my life. I had become so focused on life in general that I had stopped showing God my appreciation for what I had been given. Once I changed my thinking, everything became right with my world again.
Maybe that’s something that you are doing as well and aren’t really conscious about it. So…… change it! Give credit where credit is due not only for what you have now but for what God has given you in the past and even what He can give you in the future. You might just be pleasantly surprised at the results. (Related post: Our God Waits)
So, what did I learn from this? I have days where I’m not so appreciative of what I have. However, it always helps me to remember that we have a God who never changes. He never stops loving me even when I’m not being very loving back. It humbles me. This ever-abiding love that God has for me just continues to fill up all the hollow parts of me and makes me become a better person. It’s nothing that I deserve but He gives to me nonetheless. How can I not try to do my very best with that sort of love?
What can you gain from this? Take a moment to think about your life at this moment. Ask yourself if you are happy, then ask yourself why or why not. Listen carefully, think completely, and answer honestly. It might be that you too had put God on the “back burner” of your life. When you are honest with yourself then you will become a much happier version of yourself that you can then give to others. (Related post: Finding the Strength Within Our Struggles)
A Joyful Mission 