Enough for Me
"The LORD is with me.”
Psalm 118:6 (NIV)
I read a lot of books. In doing so, I have found that there are some books that I just can't make myself finish. Many other books are worth reading once, but not twice. A handful of books are worth even a third reading. and then there are just a few books that are dear friends. I return to them often never tiring of their message.
Almost twenty years ago I came across one such book quite by accident. My husband purchased Robert J. Morgan's little gem The Red Sea Rules because it contained an anonymous poem that dealt with suffering.
When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man
And skill a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all his heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed
Watch His methods, with His ways…..
God knows what He’s about.
I was surprised that Bruce purchased the book primarily for the poem. Neither one of us are poetry buffs, but we were both suffering and struggling James Bruce’s disability. The 24/7 demands of special needs parenting are exhausting and often discouraging for caregivers.
One night I picked up the little book from Bruce’s nightstand and began reading. When I finished two hours later, I had found a new friend. Over the next few weeks I worked my way through the book again and again. The book's content is based on the historical events recorded in Exodus 13-15 and describes Israel’s miraculous Exodus across the Red Sea. Robert J. Morgan described his writing process saying, "As I worked through the chapters, ten rules unfolded like rubber life rafts; ten ways of handling dilemmas and discouragements - a divine protocol for handling life when we find ourselves caught..."
Morgan then developed 10 God-given principles for dealing with adversity. Each strategy is called a "rule" and each one progressively builds on the principles that precede it.
Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.
Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Pray!
Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
Envision God's enveloping presence.
Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Don't forget to praise Him.
Over the last twenty years Morgan’s principles have served me well as I applied them to whatever crisis we faced. “God knows where I am, and He means for me to be here” (RSR1) has calmed and comforted my heart in countless crises.
This week my women’s Bible study’s RSR focus is Rule Seven: “Envision God’s enveloping presence.” Exodus 14:19-20 records that the angel of God and pillar of cloud came between the Israelites and Pharaoh’s army until Israel safely reached the other shore. Throughout the night the cloud of God’s presence provided both light for the Israelites and darkness for Egyptians.
Truthfully this is my least favorite RSR principle. I’ve struggled through the years with how best to apply and teach visualizing God’s enveloping presence until I finally realized that God is with us is the underlying biblical principle.
Recently I heard a plenary message that Pastor David Platt delivered at TGC21. In his address from Hebrews 13, Platt had one quote and one question that really resonated with me.
“Be content with the presence of God.”
“Is the presence of God WITH me enough FOR me?
The last twenty months have been gut-wrenching for our family, but I can truthfully say, “God’s presence with us has always been enough for us.” It was enough for our special needs parenting journey with James Bruce. It was enough for his sudden death. It was enough with my breast cancer diagnosis and Bruce’s recent open-heart surgery. God’s presence with us has been enough for us through all of our suffering, grief, pain, and loss. He has carried us every step of the way.
All of us should ask ourselves, “Is God’s presence WITH me enough FOR me when….” and then fill in the blank. Whatever we’re facing today, we are never alone; God is with us! May we all like David Platt be able to confidently declare,“I want to be content in the presence of God with me, no matter what the circumstances are around me.”