We live either in constant state of want to miss out on peace because we are looking for the next thing. When is the last time you remember being content? When I get the next pair of shoes, outfit material possession then I will be content; only to be dissatisfied looking for the next thing, Once I have that special someone in my life or change who I am to appeal to others then I will have enough. The question on the table, is God enough? Does he complete you or simply fill in one of the gaps in your life?
In 2nd Corinthians 9:8 Paul shares with the Corinthians his gratefulness for their giving spirit as he is picking up resource and financial help for the needs of saints in Jerusalem, he expresses to them “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
True fulfillment is when we live in a state of being grateful with all that we need verses all that we want. When Our hearts open to giving, we can now reach a state of love towards others outside ourselves in order to live content. God’s blessings flow with an open hand, however we must be willing to help others without expecting anything in return, why? Because God is simply enough.
If today you are feeling disconnected or discontented with life and the situation you are in, consider is God enough. You got this!
- The Illusion of “Next” Will Never Satisfy
We live in a culture that constantly tells us the next item, experience, or relationship will finally bring contentment. As I expressed, “only to be dissatisfied looking for the next thing,” we see that fulfillment keeps slipping through our fingers. This endless chase distracts us from the peace already available through God. Philippians 4:11-12 reminds us, like Paul, we must learn the secret of being content in any and every situation. True peace doesn’t come from accumulation—it comes from trusting that God’s provision is already sufficient. In other words what he provides is enough.
Reflective Question:
What “next thing” have you been chasing, believing it will bring peace or fulfillment—and how might releasing it help you embrace the sufficiency of God’s provision in this moment?
Biblical Story: The Rich Young Ruler
A wealthy young man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, which the man claims to have done. Then Jesus challenges him further:
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” — Matthew 19:21
But the young man went away sad because he had great wealth. He was seeking something more, yet unwilling to give up what he thought made him whole. The “next” for him was eternal life, but his attachment to possessions revealed a heart not yet content in God alone.
Reflective Question:
What is the one thing you’re holding on to that might be keeping you from fully following Jesus—and are you willing to let it go to discover that He alone is enough?
🔧 3 Key Tools to Break Free from the Illusion of “Next”
1. Practicing Daily Gratitude
Write down 3 specific things you are thankful for each day. Gratitude helps you focus on what you already have instead of what’s missing. It shifts your mindset from scarcity to sufficiency (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
2. Sabbath Stillness: Reset Your Desires
Set aside regular time to pause from consuming, scrolling, or chasing. Whether for an hour or a day, intentional stillness recalibrates your heart. In silence, God can remind you what truly satisfies (Psalm 46:10).
“Be still and know that I am God.”
3. Give Generously with No Strings Attached
The more you release to others—whether time, money, or kindness—the more you realize God provides. It breaks the lie that you must “hold on to more” to be secure. As Jesus told the rich young man, giving frees your heart to follow Him fully.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35
Reflective Question:
When you give—do you give to be noticed, to stay in control, or with no strings attached? What would it look like to trust God enough to give freely, believing He’s your true source?
- God Doesn’t Fill a Gap—He Is the Whole
The key question: “Does He complete you or simply fill in one of the gaps in your life?” This distinction matters. Many treat God like a supplement—used when something is missing—rather than the Source. But God is not an accessory to our lives; He is the center. When He becomes our foundation, not just our fallback, we experience the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10. God is not just part of the solution—He is the answer.
🔆 New Testament Example: The Apostle Paul
Before his radical transformation, Paul (formerly Saul) was full of religious zeal but spiritually empty—persecuting Christians while believing he was serving God (Acts 9). After his encounter with Jesus, Paul didn’t just add Christ to his resume—he counted everything else as loss for the sake of knowing Him:
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”
— Philippians 3:8
Paul’s entire identity shifted. Jesus didn’t fill a gap in Paul’s life—He became Paul’s entire life.
Reflective Question:
Is God the foundation of your life—or just someone you turn to when everything else falls apart? What would change if you lived as though He truly was your everything, not just your emergency plan?
🌟 Famous Person: Corrie ten Boom
Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch watchmaker who helped Jews escape the Holocaust, endured the loss of her family and imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp. Yet, her testimony continually pointed to one truth: Jesus was her sufficiency—even when everything else was stripped away.
She once said:
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”
Corrie didn’t turn to God as a last resort—He was her anchor before, during, and after unimaginable loss. Her life is proof that Jesus doesn’t just fill the cracks—He holds us together.
Reflective Question:
If everything you leaned on was stripped away—comfort, people, plans—would Christ still be enough for you? What would it take to anchor your heart in Him now, before the storm comes?
🔧 3 Tools to Make God the Center, Not a Supplement
1. Evaluate Your Inner Narrative
Ask yourself: “Do I seek God only when something is missing?” or “Is He the first person I go to in every situation?” Reflecting on these questions through journaling or prayer realigns your dependency on Him.
“Search me, God, and know my heart… lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23–24
2. Create a “God-First” Daily Rhythm
Before the phone, before the world, start your day with God. Even 5–10 minutes of Scripture and prayer at the beginning of your day trains your heart to treat God as the starting point, not a safety net.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” — Matthew 6:33
Reflective Question:
What is the first voice you listen to each day—and how might your perspective shift if you chose to hear from God before anything or anyone else?
3. Surrender Your Backup Plans
Are there areas of your life where God is “Plan B”? Whether it’s your career, relationships, or dreams—invite God to be Lord, not just a lifeline. Surrender is freedom, because His plan is always better.
“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” — Proverbs 3:6
Reflective Question:
What areas of your life are you still trying to control “just in case” God doesn’t come through—and what would it look like to fully trust Him as your only plan, not your backup?
- Overflowing Blessing Comes Through Open-Handed Living
Referencing 2 Corinthians 9:8, I highlight how God blesses us “so that… having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” This means contentment is not passive—it’s activated when we give. Gratitude and generosity go hand-in-hand. When we live open-handed, we break free from the cycle of want and become vessels of God’s abundance to others. The more we give, the more we realize we already have enough—because we have Him.
New Testament Model: The Widow Who Gave All (Mark 12:41–44)
Jesus observed people putting money into the temple treasury. Many rich people gave large amounts, but a poor widow put in two small copper coins. Jesus commended her:
“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others… she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
This woman’s open-handed giving wasn’t measured by amount but by sacrifice. Her story reminds us that generosity isn’t about abundance in the bank—it’s about trust in God’s sufficiency. She gave freely, and in doing so, revealed a deep contentment rooted in God, not possessions.
Reflection:
“Considering the principle that contentment is activated through open-handed living, how might embracing radical generosity—even from a place of perceived scarcity, like the widow—deepen your trust in God’s sufficiency and transform your understanding of true abundance?”
🌟 Famous Person: R.G. LeTourneau – “God’s Businessman”
R.G. LeTourneau was a successful Christian industrialist who gave away 90% of his income, living on just 10%. He famously said:
“I shovel out the money, and God shovels it back—but God has a bigger shovel.”
He didn’t wait to become wealthy to become generous. His giving flowed from a heart that saw himself as a steward, not an owner. His business success became a channel for ministry, missions, and education because he lived open-handed. His life proves: God can entrust more to those who don’t cling tightly.
Reflective: In what areas of your life is it a struggle to give? How does giving impact your life?
🔧 3 Tools to Help Readers Live with an Open Hand
1. Practice the “First Fruits” Principle
Before spending or saving, give first. Whether it’s tithing to a church, supporting a mission, or blessing someone in need, this act trains your heart to trust that God provides.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” — Proverbs 3:9
2. Bless Someone Secretly Each Week
Do something generous without expecting credit—leave a gift, pay for someone anonymously, or send an encouraging card. Private generosity purifies our motives and fosters deeper joy.
“Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” — Matthew 6:4
3. Keep a “Generosity Journal”
Track ways you’ve given and how God showed up in return—not always materially, but in peace, opportunities, or relationships. This builds faith and reminds you that God’s economy multiplies what’s surrendered.
“Give, and it will be given to you… For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” — Luke 6:38